Renewable energy sources (RES)

The share of electricity produced from renewable energy sources in the total electricity consumption was about 29%, mostly produced in large hydro power plants (in 2004). In Romania, the valorisation of renewable sources (except hydro resources used in large hydro power plants) is low due to high investment costs. Combined with the improvement of energy efficiency and the rational use of energy, RES can replace fossil fuels. 

Use of RES could lead to a decreased financial effort to acquire primary energy resources (coal, gas, oil) and environment benefits (green energy). Despite the diversity of RES available, resources other than hydro used in large capacity power plants have been exploited only to a small extent until now (not even the small hydro). It is necessary to increase the valorisation of as many types of available RES as possible. Furthermore, RES can help improve the competitiveness of industries and have a positive impact on regional development and employment. 

Romania has five main types of renewable energy resources: wind, hydro, solar, biomass, geo­thermal. A recent study²⁴ explores the market potential for each of the above renewable energy resources, as follows:

−    Biomass reserves are based on wood, wastes and agricultural crops. Biomass production is not only a renewable energy resource, but also a significant opportunity for sustainable rural

²⁴ ICEMENERG, 2006;

SOP IEC – Ministry of Economy and Finance 59

development. The power potential of biomass is approx. 7,594 tho. toe/year, out of which 15.5% is waste wood, 63.2% agricultural waste, 7.2% household waste and 7.7% biogas. Wood based biomass, as a energy resource, is available especially in the North-East (over 35% of total), Centre and North-West development regions. In the case of agricultural biomass, the richest regions are South-East, South and North-East.

−    The wind technically exploitable power potential is estimated at about 8 TWh/year. The main areas suitable for windmills in Romania are:

                        o          mountain peaks,

                        o          Black Sea coast, Danube Delta, the Northern part of Dobrogea area,

                        o          Barlad plateau, East of Baragan plains, the Western border and hills.

−    The hydro technically exploitable power potential is of 36 TWh/year (2/3 given by inner rivers and 1/3 by the Danube). The economically exploitable hydro energy potential is estimated at about 23-25 TWh, with an installed capacity of 8,000 MW. In 2005 approximately 70% of the economic potential was capitalized and hydro capacities comprising 600 MW installed capacity are being built, with a production potential of 1,870 GWh/year.

−    The microhydro technically exploitable power potential is around 3.6 TWh/year, whereas the economic one may reach up to 1.2 TWh/year. In terms of territorial distribution, the Olt, Mures and Tisa-Somes rivers are considered to best fit the microhydro power application.

−    The most relevant areas of implementing solar power applications are Dobrogea area, the Black Sea coast and the Danube Delta, areas where the solar power yearly average flow is above 1200-1250 kWh/m². In addition, also efficient for solar power exploitation are the Romanian Plain, the West Plain, the Banat region and a part of Transylvanian and Moldavian hill areas, with a solar power yearly average flow of over 1000-1250kWh/m². The energy potential of solar-thermal systems is estimated at about 1,434 thousand toe/year and that of the photovoltaic systems is about 1,200 GWh/year. 

−    Geothermal energy may be exploited especially in the Western Plains and the Eastern Carpathians. Romania benefits from an energy economic potential of approx. 167 thousand toe/year in geothermal resources of low and medium enthalpy, out of which 30 thousand toe/year are already exploited.

Source: MEF

Legend:

I. Danube Delta (solar power);

II. Dobrogea (solar and wind power);

III. Moldova (field and plateau: microhydro, wind power, biomass);

                        IV. Carpathian Mountains(IV1 – Eastern Carpathians; IV2 - Southern Carpathians; IV3 - Western Carpathians, high biomass potential, microhydro);

                        V. Transylvanian Plateau (high microhydro potential);

VI. Western Plains (high geothermal potential);

VII. Subcarpathians (VII1 – Getian Subcarpathians; VII2 – Curvature Subcarpathians; VII3 – Moldavian Subcarpathians: high biomass potential, microhydro);

VIII. Southern Plains (biomass, geothermal energy, solar power).

Romania has also a high untapped potential of biofuels, as current production is underdeveloped, mainly due to the current lack of processing plants. Moreover, the Government has assumed through GD 1844/2005, in accordance with Directive No 2003/30/EC, a target of 5.75% as the minimum share of biofuels to be marketed before 31 December 2010. As a result, public intervention is required in order to adequately stimulate the compliance with the adopted policy.

For the promotion of the production of electricity from Renewable Energy Sources, a system of Green Certificates is in place, including a purchase obligation for distribution companies and the obligation to fulfil an annual quota of purchased green electricity: at the end of each year, distribution companies have to deliver a certain amount of "Green Certificates" corresponding with the annual quota. Since October 2005, the certificates are being traded at the newly created electricity market administrator OPCOM. According to the Energy Law, all producers of electricity have equal access to the network. The tariffs are regularly adapted to the actual production costs by the Romanian Regulatory Authority, ANRE. 

For the period 2005-2012, the annual maximum and minimum value for Green Certificates trading is 24 Euro/certificate, respective 42 Euro/certificate (Annex 4, Graph 2).