Romania is one of the countries with a diverse and balanced energy mix, where there is a strong reliance on hydropower and efficient nuclear reactors and then wind farms, with the presence of coal and natural gas in the energy mix. Romania is a member of the European Union, therefore climate neutrality, energy stability and environmental protection are priorities. Environmental protection, as one of the main topics of the EU, is often inseparable from energy. Nevertheless, Romania can boast in this field as well, given that it is intertwined with large protected areas and the longest parts of the Carpathians, and the great task is to keep the natural resources preserved.
As many as 30,000 hectares are under the protection of UNESCO, while the country has more than 70,000 hectares of rainforest. The Danube is an indispensable element in the story of the natural resources and energy of this country, considering that it represents the operation of the hydroelectric power plants there because more than a third of the course of the entire river is positioned precisely on the territory of Romania, with a length of over 1,000 kilometers. When it comes to nuclear energy, our interlocutor Sebastijan Burduž, Minister of Energy of Romania, told us a little more about the country’s plans in the field of energy, including nuclear energy, considering that Serbia is also slowly turning to the same and examining how the management of nuclear power plants is going. especially in nearby countries.
IN FOCUS:
Can you present us the energy mix of Romania? How important are coal and gas in the energy sector and are there plans to reduce their use?
– Romania’s current energy mix relies on a variety of domestic resources, with renewable energy sources, natural gas combined with hydrogen and nuclear energy playing a key role. Romania is on the path to decarbonizing its economy, with the aim of achieving key energy and climate goals by 2030, which are defined by the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). Therefore, we are trying to work intensively on the process of electrification, decommissioning of outdated coal-fired thermal power plants, and increasing the share of energy from renewable sources, while improving energy efficiency. In order to support these plans, Romania has taken a number of concrete steps. First of all, the gradual abolition of the use of coal by 2032 plays a significant role in achieving climate goals, which follows the parallel development of capacity for energy production with low carbon emissions, with of course the necessary supporting infrastructure. The National Recovery and Resilience Plan envisages investments in new capacities for the production of 950 MW of electricity from renewable sources, mainly solar and wind energy, with an available budget of 460 million euros. In addition, through the Modernization Fund, the construction of an additional 10 GW of wind and solar energy is planned by the end of 2030. To facilitate private investment in renewable energy sources, our Ministry of Energy has introduced Contracts for Difference (CfD), which will ensure long-term predictable income for new energy producers, while at the same time contributing to lower prices on the market, thanks to an increase in the amount of energy in circulation. We can say that CFD contracts are a tool used to encourage investments in renewable energy sources in this case. CFD contracts allow energy producers to receive a fixed price for the electricity they produce, independent of current market fluctuations. In this way, the producer has security of income, which makes it easier for them to plan and invest in new projects.
What big projects of renewable resources are planned for the next period?
– Romania aspires to increase the share of renewable energy sources in its energy mix, with the goal that by 2030 they will make up at least 38.3 percent of total energy consumption. One of Romania’s most ambitious plans is to become the first country on the Black Sea with offshore wind energy production facilities by the end of the current decade. It is a large facility that can use the potential that has not been used so far. The country’s energy priorities are therefore focused on new investments that will increase the contribution of renewable energy sources in the energy mix, with a focus on the Black Sea, large-scale electricity storage and the use of hydrogen.
When did Romania start using nuclear energy and can you give us an insight into its current state?
– Last year, at COP28, more than 20 countries from four continents signed a joint declaration with the goal of tripling global nuclear energy production by 2050. In the European Union, nuclear energy currently covers approximately a quarter of total electricity production, with around 100 operating reactors. In addition, more than 35 new reactors are planned or already under construction. meeting about 20 percent of its energy needs. They represent one of the most efficient reactors in the world, which is why Romania continues to develop its nuclear capacity through the planned construction of the third and fourth units at the Černavoda site, whose commissioning is expected by 2031. In addition, we are committed to nuclear innovation through the development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), particularly in regions facing coal phase-out. SMR technology brings numerous advantages, including lower costs and shorter construction times, and ultimately greater efficiency. Nuclear waste management remains a key issue of the nuclear program. Romania, like other countries with a developed nuclear infrastructure, directs significant resources and expertise towards the safe disposal of nuclear waste, which is why international cooperation in this area is essential for the sustainability of nuclear energy in the future.
The interview was conducted by: Milica Vučković
Source: energetskiportal.rs
