RPIA - Romanian Photovoltaic Industry Association

𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞’𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲? The European Commission has unveiled its five-year roadmap aimed at making the EU a global powerhouse for innovation, decarbonization, and security—with energy at its core. 🔌 What This Means for the Power Sector? ✅ Energy Independence – A plan to phase out Russian gas & oil is expected by March 2025. ✅ Electrification as a Growth Driver – A digitalized, integrated energy market is key to affordability and security. ✅ Lower Energy Costs – The Affordable Energy Action Plan (Feb 26) aims to reduce prices and stabilize markets. ✅ Scaling Up Renewables – Massive grid investments and long-term PPAs will accelerate clean energy deployment. ✅ Faster Decarbonization – The Industrial Decarbonization Accelerator Act will streamline permitting for net-zero projects. ✅ Stronger Supply Chains – A new joint purchasing platform for critical raw materials will support solar, wind, and green tech. The message is clear: energy is not just a climate issue—it’s an economic one. Europe's competitiveness depends on affordable power, resilient supply chains, and a thriving renewables sector. ⚡🌍

🌍☀️ 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭! 🌞 This year, renewables are poised to become the world’s largest source of electricity generation – a milestone that highlights the unstoppable rise of clean energy. Solar power, in particular, stands at the forefront of this revolution, offering an abundant, affordable, and sustainable solution to the climate crisis. 🌍 On this 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲, we at RPIA - Romanian Photovoltaic Industry Association celebrate the transformative power of solar energy and reaffirm our commitment to advancing its role in Romania’s energy transition. Our mission is to bring together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to drive the growth of solar energy, ensuring it becomes the backbone of our energy system. ⚡We recognize that this transition must be both swift and fair. While the end of the fossil fuel era is inevitable, it’s essential to ensure that clean energy reaches everyone. By scaling solar power, we can provide clean, reliable electricity, reduce emissions, and create opportunities for economic development. 💡The shift to clean energy is more than a technological revolution—it is a commitment to creating a better legacy for future generations. 🌱

🌞 We’re proud to have shared our insights with Energynomics , highlighting the remarkable progress, challenges, and future prospects of Romania’s renewable energy market. Here are the key facts and figures from our contribution in the interview given by our Executive Director, Andrei Manea: 🌟𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀: Total installed capacity grew to 5 GW (up from 3.2 GW in 2023), led by 170,000+ prosumers contributing over 2.2 GW and 600 MW from large-scale photovoltaic projects. 🔮𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: An additional 2 GW is expected (1 GW utility-scale and 1 GW from prosumers). 🎯𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀: On track to surpass the 9.9 GW target set in Romania’s National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP). 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: ⚡ Cost Dynamics: While CAPEX for renewable projects is decreasing, global economic factors may soon stabilize or reverse this trend. ⚡ Market Stabilization Tools: Mechanisms like CfD (Contracts for Difference) and PPA (Power Purchase Agreements) are essential for reducing market volatility and attracting new investments. ⚡ Prosumers’ Growth: Their role continues to grow, showcasing the potential for distributed energy in Romania’s renewable ecosystem. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗼𝗻: ⚡Grid Infrastructure: Connection delays in high-demand areas hinder the pace of renewable integration. ⚡Regulatory Adjustments: Recent changes, such as moving to auction-based grid access post-2026, risk slowing down investment momentum. ⚡Investment Guarantees: While ANRE’s guarantee system is a positive step, it needs further refinements for broader industry confidence. Romania is not only one of the fastest-growing renewable energy markets in the region but also a standout player in job creation, ranking among Europe’s top five for employment in the solar industry. 💼 📖 For a deeper dive into these topics, check out the full article in the Energynomics Winter 2024 edition: https://lnkd.in/d9qpR6wH

🌟 Happy New Year from RPIA! As we begin the new year, we are pleased to reflect on Romania’s remarkable achievements in 2024, highlighted in SolarPower Europe’s Solar Market Outlook. With contributions from our colleague, Irene M. - Policy Officer, this analysis showcases Romania’s notable achievements in the solar sector. 📈 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰: ➡️Rapid Growth: Installed capacity grew from 3 GW in 2023 to nearly 5 GW by the end of 2024, marking the second consecutive year of GW-scale growth. ➡️Prosumers in the Spotlight: Around 200,000 prosumers contributed to 64% of annual installations, supported by the Casa Verde programme. ➡️Utility-Scale Expansion: In 2024 the number of utility-scale projects grew by around 23% compared to 2023, driven by the recently concluded CfD tender and significant EU funding. 🌟𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵: ➡️The successful Casa Verde programme, which funds up to 90% of installation costs and now includes battery storage. ➡️Legislative improvements, including streamlined permitting for projects below 50 hectares and the removal of double taxation for storage. ➡️Substantial funding through the National Recovery and Resilience Facility and the Modernisation Fund. ➡️Increased targets for renewables through the updated NECP, from 30.7% to 38.3%. For solar, this translates into an objective of 10 GW. ⚡𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱: Despite this progress, the sector faces hurdles such as grid connection bottlenecks, limited PPA offtakers, and the upcoming grid capacity auction system starting in 2026, which may add complexity to project timelines. Addressing these challenges will be key to sustaining growth. 🎯𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱: Romania’s solar PV sector is on track to surpass its national targets, reinforcing its role as a key player in Europe’s renewable energy transition. Addressing these challenges will be critical to sustaining momentum and unlocking the full potential of Romania’s solar market. A big thank you to SolarPower Europe for showcasing Romania’s remarkable progress and for compiling such a compelling analysis. Read more in the report 👉 https://lnkd.in/gQWb3jxC

𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗳𝗗 𝗔𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟭,𝟱𝟬𝟬 𝗠𝗪 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 ⚡ The results of Romania's inaugural Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction have been announced, marking significant progress in supporting renewable energy investments. A total of 𝟭,𝟱𝟮𝟴 𝗠𝗪 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 has been awarded: 🔸 𝟰𝟯𝟮 𝗠𝗪 for solar PV projects 🔸 𝟭,𝟬𝟵𝟲 𝗠𝗪 for onshore wind projects 📉 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴: Winning prices were 20-30% below the cap, with averages of 𝟲𝟱 𝗘𝗨𝗥/𝗠𝗪𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗱 and 𝟱𝟭 𝗘𝗨𝗥/𝗠𝗪𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿, signaling investor confidence and competitive project proposals. This auction, funded by the Modernization Fund, marks a new chapter for Romania's renewable energy sector by providing a fixed price mechanism for 15 years, reducing financial risks for investors and offering price predictability for consumers. 📋 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Out of 48 bids submitted for both technologies, 47 were deemed eligible for financial evaluation: 🔸Onshore wind: 1,196 MW offered 🔸Solar PV: 1,615 MW offered 📌 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀: The government is planning new CfD auctions in 2025, targeting 3,500 MW of additional renewable capacity and introducing a scheme for energy storage. This milestone reflects Romania’s growing renewable energy sector and ongoing efforts to achieve its energy transition targets. 🌍

This week, RPIA - Romanian Photovoltaic Industry Association, represented by our colleagues Irene M. - Policy Officer, and Adriana Petre - Communication and PR Officer, proudly participated in the 2nd General Assembly of the RETRIEVE project in Barcelona. As our first EU-funded initiative, RETRIEVE continues to be an exciting journey of learning and collaboration, and being part of a consortium with such expertise is truly inspiring. 💡 Our role in translating complex project insights into actionable knowledge for policymakers and broader audiences is a unique challenge that we fully embrace. We remain dedicated to contributing to the project’s progress by shaping a policy framework around PV recycling, organizing workshops and events to foster dialogue, driving innovation, and supporting Europe’s transition to a circular economy. 🔄 Special thanks to ACCIÓ for hosting this event, to Institute for Energy Technology, for such a smooth coordination of the project, and to all consortium members for their ongoing contributions.🙏 Let’s stay inspired by our guiding motto: “The panels of today will be the panels of tomorrow!” 🌱 Together, we are making important strides toward a more sustainable future in renewable energy.

An Outlook on Renewable Energy Projects in Romania🌱⚡ Romania's renewable energy sector is growing, with over 1,000 projects under development across the country. Dolj, Cluj, and Tulcea counties are leading the way, focusing on solar and wind energy, according to IBC Focus data. 📊 Key Figures: 🔹11,000 MW of solar and 4,000 MW of wind projects approved by Transelectrica in 2024. Yet, despite the approval of numerous renewable energy projects this year, actual implementation has been slow. 🔹898 MW of solar and wind capacity in advanced stages, expected to be operational by year-end—an almost 58% increase from 2023, according to the latest data from ANRE. 🔹Solar energy production reached 2.93 billion kWh (Jan-Sept 2024), up 58.6% year-on-year, as reported by National Institute of Statistics  (INS). This includes energy from prosumers, highlighting the role of decentralized production. 🔹From January to October 2024, the VICTA IBC Focus platform recorded 1,126 green energy projects, valued at approximately 107 billion lei. While implementation remains a challenge, support measures like the Contracts for Difference (CfDs) are expected to accelerate Romania’s renewable energy transition. 🌍

🌞 Marking a Key Milestone in Solar Energy: 2 Terawatts Installed Worldwide The Global Solar Council (GSC) has announcedthat solar PV capacity has reached a significant milestone of 2 terawatts globally! 🌍 Remarkably, while the first terawatt took nearly seven decades to achieve, the second terawatt was reached in just two years—reflecting solar’s rapid expansion and cost reductions, now making it one of the most affordable energy sources worldwide. 🌱 2TW of solar = enough energy to power 1 BILLION households worldwide. 🏠 Approximately 60% of this capacity comes from ground-mounted solar farms, while 40% is generated by rooftop solar installations, highlighting the diverse and expanding reach of solar worldwide. ⚡ As solar continues to play an essential role in the global energy system, meeting climate goals will require doubling the installation rate to 1 TW per year by 2030. Increasing access to financing will be key to sustaining this progress. 🌏💰

🎉 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭! We are deeply grateful for each of our nearly 500 participants who brought energy, insights, and enthusiasm to these impactful two days, creating an atmosphere that drove vibrant discussions and meaningful connections. 🙌 A special thanks goes to our exceptional speakers and moderators, whose expertise and thought leadership made every panel, workshop, and expo session truly memorable. 🤝We also extend our appreciation to our strategic European and local partners—WindEurope, SolarPower Europe, Federația Asociațiilor Companiilor de Utilități din Energie (ACUE), AFEER Romania, Confederatia Patronala Concordia, and AmCham Romania—for their outstanding support, as well as our Special Partners: Impact Hub Bucharest, Purcari Wineries Group, and @PSC. A huge thanks to our Media Partners: pv magazine Global, Ziarul Financiar, HOTNEWS LTD, @e-nergia.ro, Financial Intelligence, InvestEnergy, Ziarul BURSA, The Diplomat Bucharest, Energynomics , and AGENDA CONSTRUCTIILOR & FEREASTRA for helping us reach and engage a wider audience. 💼 Our gratitude to our Main Sponsor, PPC Renewables - ΔΕΗ Ανανεώσιμες Romania, and to our valued Sponsors—@Vestas, Monsson , EVRYO, OX2, Rezolv Energy, E.ON, ENGIE Romania, Prime Batteries Technology, Parapet, PNE Romania, OMV Petrom, Kraftfeld Solar, BayWa r.e. Global, IJDELEA & Associates, and Alive Capital—whose support made this event possible. ✨ Special thanks to our strong support from the amazing @Energy42 team— Andreea Gheorghe, Ana-Maria Aneculaesei, and Mihaela Ciocoiu—whose dedication contributed immensely to the event’s success. 🎥 To relive some of the best moments, watch the video showcasing highlights from our two-day Summit!

🎬 𝐃𝐚𝐲 1 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞! Thank you to everyone who made our opening day of the 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭 unforgettable, with rich discussions on renewables, energy transition, and future investments. Watch the recap video to relive the inspiring talks, insightful panels and workshops, and meaningful connections. As we look forward to Day 2, we invite you to join us for more crucial debates and hands-on workshops! Here’s a sneak peek at tomorrow’s agenda: 🌟 𝐃𝐚𝐲 2 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚 – 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫; 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 8:30 - 9:00 | WELCOME COFFEE 9:00 - 9:10 | OPENING SPEECH by RWEA - Romanian Wind Energy Association / RPIA - Romanian Photovoltaic Industry Association 9:10 - 9:30 | KEYNOTE SPEECH by EU Commission Representation 9:30 - 10:30 | PANEL I - 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬 10:45 - 12:00 | PANEL II - 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐞: 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬 12:00 - 13:00 | PANEL III - 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬: 𝐀𝐈, 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Check out here the full agenda: https://lnkd.in/d_y9TDYu 💼 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐬: Renewable Transactions, Shifting the Grid, and Offshore Wind and Job Creation – hear from leaders in policy, innovation, and infrastructure. We’re excited for another day of engaging insights and transformative ideas. See you there! #PowerShiftSummit #RenewableEnergy #EnergyTransition #ProsumerRevolution #TechInEnergy #Sustainability #Innovation