‘Nine O’Clock’ and the Ministry of Economy organized a round table called ‘Wind energy – a certain way towards Romania’s energy independence’ yesterday, at the Intercontinental Hotel.

Representatives of the ministries, of CEZ, Enel, of various companies linked to the energy field and of banks such as BRD and BCR. The anchor of the discussions was ‘Nine O’Clock’ Director Radu Bogdan.

Secretary of State Tudor Serban: Sobrogea – a favourable area for wing energy

Secretary of State from the Ministry of Economy Tudor Serban said, in Romania, investors were willing to develop wind farms with a total capacity of 12,000 Mw.

He declared that the Ministry of Economy had the intention to develop non-conventional energy projects, both for wind energy and solar energy. In the Minister’s opinion, a windy area that would be favourable for wind energy units is Dobrogea, where projects of approximately 6,000 MW were submitted. Serban declared that, for the application of the projects, lines and stations should be built, avoiding the situation of a unit built by each investor. Therefore, associations of the state and private investors are really important, the representative of the Ministry of Economy outlined, referring to the collaborations of the Ministry with Transelectrica and ANRE.

At the same time, the Secretary of State added the energy projects the Ministry of Economy had were with regards to the revamping of a number of stations such as the ones in Turceni, Deva, Onesti, Galati (to be improved by CEZ), or Braila (to be modernised by Enel).

Florin Marza, economic adviser to the minister of economy stated the Ministry of Economy would enter into partnerships with Transelectrica and with the distribution companies in the Dobrogea region which is home to the highest potential for the sue of wind power, but also subject to transmission and distribution shortcomings. The ministry will also take a number of measures designed to stimulate small and very small output plants.

He also said that, in Romania, the wind energy was the main source of alternative energy that could be developed. Marza explained: ‘As we all know, the energy resources are not enough and we need to think of alternatives. The wind power development projects are in their heydays.

The transmission and distribution networks are our main problem’. Since the most important area where such energy could be generated, the Ministry, in partnership with the company holding the distribution networks there and even with Transelectrica, intends to create conditions to foster a fast development of wind energy projects. There are stimulating projects that will be soon adopted by Government decision, meant to encourage small and very small output plants in remote areas. Marza evinced that the Ministry of Economy would definitely consider every project coming from investors in co-operation with banks or investment funds.

ANRE president Petru Lificiu: requests for wind energy parks total 16,000 megawatts

The president of the National Regulatory Authority in the domain of Energy (ANRE), Petru Lificiu, declared that the requests for the development of wind farms in Romania reach so far a total capacity of 16,000 Megawatts.

“The requests for the development of the wind farms reach a capacity of 16,000 Megawatts now, but only the requests for a total capacity of 500-600 Megawatts have obtained the technical assent for connection. A capacity of only 3,000 Megawatts can be injected in the current system. In Galati, there are requests for a capacity of 1,400 Megawatts, and the capacity of the network is between 100 and 150 Megawatts. Under these circumstances, many investors will be obliged to build by themselves the transport line for the injection of the energy into the network,” Petru Lificiu said.

The potential power of the wind energy in Romania rises to 14,000 – 15,000 Megawatts, the double of the power in operation, ANRE president added.

As an example of development of the wind energy, ANRE president referred to the eastern area of Romania, namely Moldova, which has in his opinion a high potential for obtaining the wind energy, but was not exploited.

BRD representative, Ribiana Crasan, and BCR representative, Markus Kriegler, present at the event, declared that they would grant financial support to those who want to invest in the production of alternative energy.