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Released April 24, 2024 | GALWAY, IRELAND
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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Romania is pushing ahead with ambitious offshore wind energy and small modular reactor (SMR) plans with major announcements in each sector.
The country's government has adopted its first Offshore Wind Energy Bill with the aim of commissioning its first offshore wind project in the Black Sea by 2032. The move comes in the same week as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) gave the thumbs-up to the country's selection of Doicesti as the site for deployment of its mini nuclear plant.
"At the pace imposed by the bill, in 2032 we will be able to have the first megawatt of wind energy produced offshore in the National Energy System," said Romania's Minister of Energy Sebastian Burduja. "At the same time, the production of offshore wind energy will allow us to strengthen the Romanian industry through the domestic production of green hydrogen and value-added products based on green ammonia. World Bank data show us that Romania has an offshore wind potential of 76-gigawatts (GW) of installed power. Offshore wind will help Romania achieve its goals of transition and decarbonization of the energy system, as well as in consolidating its status as a regional leader in the field of energy. The adoption of this draft law is a concrete step to promote the vision that I have announced since the first day of my mandate: safe, cheap and green energy for all Romanian citizens".
A detailed study into the sector will be published next year after which the government will outline the offshore wind parameters and a competitive procedure for awarding contracts. Romania released the timetable of its maiden renewable energy auction round for 2 GW onshore wind and solar capacity in December. The Contract for Difference (CfD) support scheme for renewable energy will be followed by another 3 GW tender in 2025. The offshore scheme is expected to use a similar system.
Onshore wind is a well-developed sector in Romania, with more than 3-GW of installed windfarms accounting for 17% of total installed power generation capacity and 13% of total power generation in 2021, according to GlobalData. Installed capacity is forecast to increase from 2022 to 2035, at which point onshore wind power is expected to account for 21% of total installed generation capacity.
On the SMR front, Romania is looking to build a six-module, 462-megawatt (MW) power plant at the former Doicesti power plant as early as 2028-29 using technology from NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE:SMR) (Portland, Oregon). Romania is aiming to phase out almost 4.6 GW of coal-fired power by 2032, while reusing some of the sites for SMRs. "The IAEA Team welcomed the effort spent by Nuclearelectrica to conduct an objective, feasible and safety-oriented site selection process in Romania, considered a robust framework for the SMR project development," said Paolo Contri, team leader for the review and Head of the External Events Safety Section in the IAEA Department of Nuclear Safety and Security. "The request for a follow up of the SEED mission carried out in 2022 to review the process on site selection, is the best evidence of the Nuclearelectrica commitment to safety and its firm decision to minimize the risk that safety issues discovered at later stage may challenge the smooth and safe project implementation. The experience under development in Romania can be of great value for the nuclear community."
Last month, Industrial Info reported that Nuclearelectrica is expected to make a preliminary final investment decision next year on the SMR project, putting Romania in the running for being the first European country to build an SMR plant. For additional information, see March 26, 2024, article - Romania to Fast-Track Plans for NuScale Small Nuclear Reactor.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
The country's government has adopted its first Offshore Wind Energy Bill with the aim of commissioning its first offshore wind project in the Black Sea by 2032. The move comes in the same week as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) gave the thumbs-up to the country's selection of Doicesti as the site for deployment of its mini nuclear plant.
"At the pace imposed by the bill, in 2032 we will be able to have the first megawatt of wind energy produced offshore in the National Energy System," said Romania's Minister of Energy Sebastian Burduja. "At the same time, the production of offshore wind energy will allow us to strengthen the Romanian industry through the domestic production of green hydrogen and value-added products based on green ammonia. World Bank data show us that Romania has an offshore wind potential of 76-gigawatts (GW) of installed power. Offshore wind will help Romania achieve its goals of transition and decarbonization of the energy system, as well as in consolidating its status as a regional leader in the field of energy. The adoption of this draft law is a concrete step to promote the vision that I have announced since the first day of my mandate: safe, cheap and green energy for all Romanian citizens".
A detailed study into the sector will be published next year after which the government will outline the offshore wind parameters and a competitive procedure for awarding contracts. Romania released the timetable of its maiden renewable energy auction round for 2 GW onshore wind and solar capacity in December. The Contract for Difference (CfD) support scheme for renewable energy will be followed by another 3 GW tender in 2025. The offshore scheme is expected to use a similar system.
Onshore wind is a well-developed sector in Romania, with more than 3-GW of installed windfarms accounting for 17% of total installed power generation capacity and 13% of total power generation in 2021, according to GlobalData. Installed capacity is forecast to increase from 2022 to 2035, at which point onshore wind power is expected to account for 21% of total installed generation capacity.
On the SMR front, Romania is looking to build a six-module, 462-megawatt (MW) power plant at the former Doicesti power plant as early as 2028-29 using technology from NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE:SMR) (Portland, Oregon). Romania is aiming to phase out almost 4.6 GW of coal-fired power by 2032, while reusing some of the sites for SMRs. "The IAEA Team welcomed the effort spent by Nuclearelectrica to conduct an objective, feasible and safety-oriented site selection process in Romania, considered a robust framework for the SMR project development," said Paolo Contri, team leader for the review and Head of the External Events Safety Section in the IAEA Department of Nuclear Safety and Security. "The request for a follow up of the SEED mission carried out in 2022 to review the process on site selection, is the best evidence of the Nuclearelectrica commitment to safety and its firm decision to minimize the risk that safety issues discovered at later stage may challenge the smooth and safe project implementation. The experience under development in Romania can be of great value for the nuclear community."
Last month, Industrial Info reported that Nuclearelectrica is expected to make a preliminary final investment decision next year on the SMR project, putting Romania in the running for being the first European country to build an SMR plant. For additional information, see March 26, 2024, article - Romania to Fast-Track Plans for NuScale Small Nuclear Reactor.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
