Romanian transmission system operator Transelectrica has signed financing agreements worth a combined 66.8 million euros for projects focused on voltage control and digital monitoring of the national power grid. The agreements cover two separate investments, including equipment at a 400-kV substation and an expansion of a smart lines platform.
STATCOM installation for dynamic voltage regulation at Gutinas
The larger component of the programme will install a plus or minus 150 MVAr STATCOM system at the 400-kV Gutinas substation in eastern Romania. The equipment is intended to provide dynamic voltage regulation at Gutinas, which is described as an important transmission node serving Romania’s Moldova region.
The project is linked to grid operation changes as the network accommodates a changing generation mix. It forms part of Transelectrica’s 2022-2031 transmission development programme and the CARMEN initiative. The initiative is designated as an EU Project of Common Interest.
Funding for the STATCOM project includes about 48.3 million euros in non-reimbursable support from the EU Modernisation Fund. Both projects were submitted for Modernisation Fund financing in August 2025. They were approved by the fund’s Investment Committee and the European Investment Bank in December.
DigiTEL Smart Lines expansion and real-time line monitoring
A further 18.6 million euros will finance expansion of Transelectrica’s DigiTEL Smart Lines platform. Online monitoring equipment is planned for installation on 27 overhead transmission lines, enabling real-time monitoring of technical conditions.
The programme also extends the use of Dynamic Line Rating, which calculates safe transmission capacity using real-time weather and operating conditions rather than relying only on fixed line limits. The technology can allow existing transmission infrastructure to carry additional power when conditions permit, potentially increasing usable grid capacity without immediately requiring new transmission lines.
