Romanian refining company Rompetrol Rafinare plans to invest approximately €8.5 million in a 9.4 MW photovoltaic power plant at its Petromidia refinery. The project is intended to extend a programme aimed at lowering reliance on external electricity supplies and improving industrial energy efficiency.
The solar facility is expected to generate more than 9,800 MWh annually. All electricity produced will be used within the refinery complex. No power from the installation is planned for sale to the wholesale market.
Funding and project timeline
The investment will receive around €2.6 million in non-repayable support through the Modernisation Fund. Rompetrol Rafinare will provide the remaining €5.9 million from its own resources. Completion is scheduled for the end of 2028.
Cogeneration link and on-site power use
The new solar capacity follows the commissioning of an 80 MW cogeneration plant at Petromidia at the end of 2025. That cogeneration unit supplies both electricity and process steam, supporting on-site generation for the refinery’s energy needs.
The planned solar installation is designed to complement, rather than replace, the existing cogeneration facility. Cogeneration provides controllable electricity and process steam, while solar generation adds output during daylight hours without direct fuel consumption. The combined approach forms part of broader industrial energy management within KMG International, Rompetrol’s parent group.
Industrial energy cost considerations
Refineries are energy-intensive industrial sites where electricity supply costs, operational reliability and fuel efficiency affect profitability. Producing electricity on-site can reduce exposure to external procurement costs, although the economic impact depends on how self-generation costs compare with purchased electricity.
The project also reflects how relatively modest renewable capacity can be included in wider capital expenditure programmes focused on operating efficiency. Modernisation Fund support reduces the amount of company capital required for the investment, which can affect investment economics.
The refinery’s overall decarbonisation performance will depend on how solar output aligns with cogeneration fuel consumption and other industrial processes at the site. Petromidia’s investment also points to a trend among industrial electricity consumers developing renewable assets primarily to reduce production costs and energy exposure rather than to participate directly in wholesale electricity trading.
