The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has pledged to assist Romania in the development and implementation of future renewable energy auctions. This commitment follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Romanian Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja and EBRD Head of the Romanian Office, Victoria Zinchuk.
In September, with support from the EBRD, Romania launched its first renewable energy auction, offering 1.5 GW of capacity—500 MW of solar PV and 1 GW of onshore wind—along with a Contract for Difference (CfD) mechanism for renewable energy projects. This auction marked a significant milestone in Romania’s efforts to expand its renewable energy capacity.
Looking ahead, the EBRD will assist with a second round of renewable energy auctions, scheduled to take place by the end of 2025. This includes developing a support framework for energy storage projects, such as pumped-storage hydropower, and organizing related competitive tenders. Additionally, necessary regulatory reforms will be addressed to facilitate the connection of storage systems to the grid and their participation in various energy markets.
Minister Burduja highlighted that this partnership would help build a modern energy system that meets Romania’s energy needs while attracting investment in renewable energy. He also discussed plans for a new auction round aiming to secure 3,500 MW of renewable capacity, a key step toward ensuring energy stability and resilience. He emphasized that investing in renewable energy is crucial for Romania to meet its climate goals, as outlined in the National Energy and Climate Plan, which targets 34% renewable energy in gross final energy consumption by 2030. Furthermore, a new draft energy strategy has set a higher goal of 44% from low-carbon sources by 2035.
The EBRD’s Renewable Energy Program focuses on creating supportive policy frameworks that encourage private sector investment through well-structured competitive auctions. The bank currently supports renewable energy projects in 16 countries and has contributed to over 15 auctions, resulting in the award of more than 5,000 MW of capacity across seven countries.
In Romania, the EBRD has already financed nearly 1 GW of renewable energy capacity across six projects in 2024. These investments, totaling over 180 million euros, have helped mobilize nearly 1 billion euros in additional public and private financing.
