Israeli renewable developer Shikun & Binui Energy has commissioned a 104 MW solar power plant at Șimleu Silvaniei in Romania’s Sălaj county. The commissioning increases the company’s operating renewable capacity in Romania to 175 MW. The facility is the second operational Romanian solar project for the group. Its first plant, located in Satu Mare county, entered commercial operation earlier.
CJR Renewables constructed both the Șimleu Silvaniei project and the earlier Satu Mare plant. The work delivered continuity for Shikun & Binui across engineering, procurement and construction delivery. With the second plant now operational, the company’s operating base expands beyond its initial Romanian solar asset. The commissioning also marks the transition from construction exposure to electricity generation.
Financing for Șimleu Silvaniei and shift to operating revenues
The Șimleu Silvaniei development received a €49 million loan from Raiffeisen Group in 2024. The financing provided commercial bank support for large-scale Romanian photovoltaic assets. Following commissioning, the project converts that construction exposure into operating generation. This enables Shikun & Binui to begin servicing debt using electricity revenues.
Romanian pipeline includes battery storage capacity
Beyond its two operating plants, Shikun & Binui has a larger development platform in Romania. The disclosed pipeline includes approximately 1.16 GW of renewable generation and 730 MWh of battery-storage capacity. The presence of storage points to future projects being structured as hybrid assets. These assets would be positioned to manage solar output timing and evening delivery.
Romania’s expanding solar build-out is increasing competition for grid capacity. It is also reducing the value of undifferentiated midday production. Pairing part of the pipeline with batteries could allow Shikun & Binui to move electricity into higher-priced hours. It could also reduce imbalance exposure and support services to the transmission system.
Operating scale compared with disclosed development pipeline
The group’s operating capacity of 175 MW is about 15 per cent of its disclosed 1.16 GW development pipeline. Delivery timelines are therefore linked to connection availability and construction sequencing. Financing terms for projects entering a more congested renewable market will also affect delivery pace. The completed Șimleu Silvaniei plant provides a larger operating base and a reference asset for future lenders.
The next investment phase will depend on how additional Romanian solar capacity is financed. New projects may be developed as conventional generation or as integrated solar-and-storage infrastructure.
