Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu and US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken discussed in Washington bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the field of energy, particularly in developing offshore wind projects in the Black Sea.
According to a study by Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) published last year, Romania’s offshore wind sector has estimated total potential natural capacity of 76 GW, out of which 22 GW could be installed as fixed turbines, with a total estimated annual electricity generation of 239 TWh.
A large part of Romania’s Black Sea Exclusive Economic Zone consists of a deep-water area, with depths more than 50 meters, which is more suitable for floating platforms.
Romanian Minister of Energy Virgil Popescu said in September that the offshore wind law will be ready as soon as possible, adding that investors will be able to carry measurements for future projects by the end of the year.
Minister Popescu pointed to one such project – a 300MW offshore wind farm envisaged by state- owned electricity producer Hidroelectrica, in partnership with other investors. He said that the current draft of the law is not ideal, but having a law at all so that the explorations in the area could start is enough for now. The law will also include new incentives, such as contracts for difference (CfD) and grants from the Modernization Fund.
