Romania takes a firm step in its energy transition with the official opening of the second Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction, putting 3,472 MW of new renewable generation capacity into play. This new call, described as the most ambitious in the country’s history, aims to consolidate its position on the international investment map for clean energy.
The tender, launched by the Romanian Ministry of Energy, sets a maximum price of €80/MWh for wind and €73/MWh for solar. According to an official announcement by Sebastian Burduja, Minister of Energy, “this is a decisive step towards ensuring the country’s energy security and fulfilling our decarbonization commitments.”
The Romanian Photovoltaic Industry Association (RPIA) emphasized that this auction represents a historic opportunity to strengthen foreign investment in the sector. In the words of the entity: “The CfD scheme is essential to guaranteeing stable revenues for renewable energy producers, and this second round will attract a considerable amount of foreign capital.”
The CfD scheme offers long-term contracts that ensure a stable price for the electricity generated, mitigating market risks for investors. This strategy has already proved effective in the first auction, which allocated 1,500 MW, and is now expanding its scope to accelerate the incorporation of clean energy into the national energy mix.
According to Eusebiu Stamate Policy Analyst at Issue Monitoring, “the second CfD auction not only puts Romania on the radar of major investors, but also marks a turning point for meeting the 2030 climate goals.” Furthermore, he emphasized in a conversation with strategicenergy.eu that the government’s strategy will allow progress towards the goal of 30.7% renewable energy in the final consumption mix by the end of the decade.
Market interest is high. According to official data, most of the projects presented are expected to be solar developments, taking advantage of competitive prices and high radiation in certain regions of the country. However, wind projects also have strong potential, especially in the Dobrogea region, considered one of the most advantageous in Europe for the installation of onshore wind farms.
Regarding the timeline, bids can be submitted in the coming weeks, and contract awards are expected to be completed before October. This move is key for Romania to mobilize investments of more than €4 billion in new renewable capacity.
In this way, the second CfD auction becomes a crucial driver for transforming Romania’s energy sector, reducing its dependence on fossil fuels and consolidating its role in the European energy transition.
The Romanian Ministry of Energy aims to double its installed renewable capacity by 2024 and reach at least 1,500 MW, in addition to strengthening its electricity grid infrastructure, according to ministry representatives speaking to this news portal. Within this framework, the CfD strategy is consolidated as a key pillar for achieving its objectives.
“The success of the first auction is expected to attract more developers, both national and international, further boosting investment and increasing market competitiveness,” they stated.
Furthermore, ministry sources confirmed that new measures are already being evaluated to facilitate administrative procedures and accelerate grid connection processes, a key aspect for realizing awarded projects within competitive timeframes. In parallel, the authorities are working on updating grid access regulations to facilitate the integration of large volumes of renewable generation and avoid bottlenecks in the existing infrastructure.
The push for clean energy is part of a broader strategy that seeks to position Romania as a regional renewable energy hub in Eastern Europe. In this sense, the effective implementation of the CfD scheme will not only make progress toward climate goals but also consolidate the country’s economic and energy stability in the medium and long term.
