Electricity producer Hidroelectrica plans to invest in the construction of 300 MW in offshore and onshore wind farms each in the next few years, as well as in the production of green hydrogen, said CEO Bogdan Badea.
According to a study by Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), technical potential for offshore wind farms in the Romanian continental shelf of the Black Sea is over 76,000 MW. Of the 76,000 MW, 22,000 MW could be installed in wind turbines fixed to the seabed, and 54,000 MW in floating installations. According to the latest ANRE data, the total installed power in the Romanian energy system is 20,600 MW, but, in reality, the available power is much lower. The study states that the relative lack of interest from EU states contrasts sharply with a recent World Bank map, which estimates the technical potential of the Black Sea region at 435 GW, of which 269 GW are fixed installations and 166 GW floating, although not all this potential is in EU member states. This is significant, even if it represents only a fraction of the potential of the North Sea.
In early 2021, Hidroelectrica acquired 100 % of the shares held by German STEAG in its Romanian subsidiaries – STEAG Energie Romania and Crucea Wind Farm. The latter company operates the 108 MW Crucea wind farm, commissioned in 2014. The acquisition is part of Hidroelectrica’s strategy to diversify its portfolio by acquiring other renewable energy production capacities. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. However, by comparing it to the previous Hidroelectrica’s wind acquisition from Vestas in 2019, when the company paid 136 million euros for 80 % stake in 160 MW wind farm, it is estimated that the deal with STEAG was worth around 100 million euros.
