Recent statistics reveal a complex picture of Romania’s energy landscape, characterized by a notable increase in renewable energy production alongside a slight decline in overall electricity consumption. Data from the National Institute for Statistics indicates that electricity consumption for the first two months of 2026 reached 8.78 TWh, reflecting a 0.8% decrease compared to the same timeframe in 2025. This overall reduction in demand is contrasted by a modest rise in industrial electricity use, which increased by 0.3% to 6.73 TWh, suggesting continued resilience within the manufacturing sector.
Household electricity consumption experienced a more significant drop of 4.4%, settling at 1.97 TWh, while public lighting demand saw an uptick of 2.9%, amounting to approximately 80.4 GWh. These trends highlight shifting consumer behaviors and potential areas for policy intervention as the country navigates its energy transition.
On the production side, Romania’s total electricity generation rose to 9.55 TWh, marking a year-on-year increase of 9.3%. This growth was predominantly fueled by hydropower generation, which surged by an impressive 46.8% to reach 2.5 TWh, largely due to favorable hydrological conditions this year. Wind power also contributed significantly to the renewable energy mix, with output increasing by 34.8% to 1.36 TWh.
Conversely, traditional sources faced challenges; thermal power generation fell by 6.5% to 3.48 TWh, and output from the Cernavodă nuclear power plant decreased by 3.2% to 1.88 TWh. Additionally, solar energy production—including contributions from prosumers—declined by 10.1%, totaling 323.2 GWh compared to the previous year.
The dynamics of electricity trade have also evolved during this period; exports grew by 7.9% to reach 2.12 TWh while imports saw a substantial decline of 15.7%, dropping to 2.59 TWh. This shift underscores an enhancement in domestic generation capacity and reflects Romania’s strategic positioning within regional energy markets.
Broader trends in primary energy production indicate a decline of 2.1%, totaling approximately 2,688.6 million tons of oil equivalent for the period under review. Notably, coal production plummeted by 26.1%, accompanied by decreases in oil and natural gas outputs of 8.6% and 1.2%, respectively, signaling ongoing structural changes within Romania’s overall energy mix.
These developments present both challenges and opportunities as Romania continues its transition toward a more sustainable energy future while balancing economic activity and environmental considerations.
