Renewable energy sources in Romania - wind energy

Romania has a wide range of renewable resources: hydro-energy, biomass, solar energy, wind energy and geothermal energy sources. However, they are currently virtually unexploited, except fro hydro-energy which is converted into power both in small and large hydropower plants.

Romania's hydropower economic potential in the short run is 23 - 25 TWh, with an installed power of 8,000 MW. In 2005, the utilization degree of the economic hydro-energy potential reached 80%, while there are underway hydro-energy construction works summing up an installed power of 600 MW with a production potential of 1,870 GWh per annum.

As regards biomass, there is an energy potential of 7,594 thou toe/year, broken down as follows: 15.5% forest exploitation waste and fire wood, 6.4% sawdust and other wood waste, 63.2% agricultural waste, 7.2% household waste and 7.7% biogas.
The solar energy potential of Romania is estimated at 1,100 kWh/m2 per annum (average solar energy quantity received in horizontal plane per annum). Solar - thermal systems' potential in Romania is estimated at approximately 1,434 thou toe per annum while photovoltaic systems' potential is estimated at 1,200 GWh per annum.

The wind energy potential is currently estimated 23,000 GWh per annum, while the geothermal potential of Romania is of 167 thou toe/year (low enthalpy resources), of which only 30 thou toe/year are currently utilized.

Romania has adopted the "green certificates" mechanism for encouraging production of electrical energy from renewable energy sources and, currently, there is a functioning market on which "green certificates" are purchased and sold. The following compulsory quotas have been established, as % of annual gross consumption of electrical energy: 2.2% for year 2006, 3.74% for 2007, 5.26% for 2008, 6.78% for 2009 and 8.4% starting with year 2010.Romania has adopted the "green certificates" mechanism for encouraging production of electrical energy from renewable energy sources and, currently, there is a functioning market on which "green certificates" are purchased and sold. The following compulsory quotas have been established, as % of annual gross consumption of electrical energy: 2.2% for year 2006, 3.74% for 2007, 5.26% for 2008, 6.78% for 2009 and 8.4% starting with year 2010.

Romania will promote usage of renewable energy sources by implementing mechanisms for supporting production of energy using these sources (including production of thermal energy and hot water for household consumption), by continuously developing the green certificates market and by attracting private capital investment in this sector.

It has been estimated that the needed investments for usage of renewable energy sources in years 2006-2009 are approximately 500 million EUR.

Another important measure is promoting biofuels instead of classic fuels for transport, since, by 2007, Romania must reach a minimum 2% usage share of biofuels and other renewable fuels out of the overall volume of gasoline and diesel fuels used for transport. Moreover, by 2010 a 5.75% usage share of biofuels and other renewable fuels must be reached.

So far, many foreign and locally owned private companies have expressed their interest in building refineries for biofuel production, which are estimated to generate over 700,000 tonnes of biodiesel and bioethanol per annum.

Although wind energy technologies have already reached maturity worldwide, the weight of electrical power generated from wind energy out of the total energy balance in Romania is still way below the country's real potential. Romania has a temperate continental climate, with a high wind energy potential in areas such as the Black Sea shore, the Moldova and Dobrogea plateaus (mild climate) or the mountain areas (rough climate). 5 wind energy potential areas have been identified on Romania's territory, based on the energy potential and on the environmental and topographical conditions. The wind potential map was drawn up considering the energy potential of wind sources at a 50 meters altitude and based on meteo-geographical data and information collected from year 1990 to the present.

Considering the analysis of all gathered data, wind systems / installations that could be set up on Romania's territory would total up an installed power of maximum 14,000 MW, bringing a contribution of approximately 23,000 GWh / year of electrical energy. The seashore and offshore areas have an exploitable wind energy potential of approximately 2,000 MW, with and an electrical energy production of 4,500 GWh per annum.

However, in order to efficiently benefit from the wind energy potential, adequate technologies and equipment are required (wind turbines with a nominal power from 750kW to 2,000 kW).