Against the backdrop of drought and extreme temperatures, which are reducing the availability of conventional generation sources, solar energy is helping maintain the balance of Romania’s National Power System during daylight hours. The Romanian Photovoltaic and Storage Industry Association (RPIA) highlights the strategic role of solar energy, particularly during such climate-related events, while stressing the need to implement measures that will strengthen the system’s resilience over the medium and long term.
Europe is experiencing a period of drought and extreme temperatures that is affecting the operation of power systems across several EU countries. In Romania, declining river flows are limiting hydropower generation, while low water levels and high temperatures are making it more difficult to cool nuclear units, leading to the temporary shutdown of some generation capacity and the declaration of a state of alert for August.
During this period, when severe weather conditions are limiting the output of conventional generation sources, the National Power System continues to operate within normal parameters during daylight hours, partly due to solar generation, which is covering more than half of electricity demand in certain intervals.
“The period we are currently experiencing can no longer be regarded as an isolated episode, but rather as a reflection of the intensifying climate crisis, with a direct impact on energy infrastructure. We need solutions that can be deployed rapidly and increase the resilience of the system; solar energy has already demonstrated that it can fulfil this role. In less than four years, Romania has connected more than 7 GW of new solar capacity to the grid, through both utility-scale projects and prosumer installations. This rapid pace of deployment, together with the low marginal cost of solar generation, which helps reduce wholesale market prices, has transformed solar energy into one of the main pillars of Romania’s energy security and system stability”, said Andrei Manea, Executive Director of the Romanian Photovoltaic & Storage Industry Association.
The contribution of solar energy to ensuring security of supply confirms the importance of local generation and of a diversified energy mix in which renewable sources, storage capacity and interconnections complement one another. However, for the energy generated during the day to support the system during peak demand periods, investment in storage capacity must be accelerated.
“Romania needs the infrastructure required to make use of energy when the system needs it most. Without storage, flexibility and an appropriate regulatory framework, we will not be able to fully harness the potential of new investments in renewable energy. At the same time, we must accelerate the modernisation and expansion of the transmission and distribution networks, including by moving from a reactive model, which responds to needs only after they arise, to an anticipatory one, capable of preparing the infrastructure in advance for new generation capacity and growing electricity demand”, Andrei Manea added.
Romania currently has approximately 3 GWh of energy storage systems, including both utility-scale batteries and installations owned by prosumers. Although this represents significant progress compared with last year, when total capacity stood below 1 GWh, Transelectrica estimates that Romania will require more than 10 GWh by 2030 to integrate new renewable energy capacity and maintain the stability of the National Power System.
In this context, RPIA is calling for concrete measures to accelerate investment in storage and new generation capacity. These include introducing tax incentives, temporarily reducing the taxation applicable to capacity installed over the next two years, and limiting permitting, authorisation and grid-connection procedures to a maximum of six months, so that new projects can be connected within the shortest possible timeframe.
In addition to increasing energy availability during periods of high demand, integrating a greater volume of renewable capacity, supported by storage and flexibility, has a net positive impact on wholesale prices and, consequently, on the costs borne by consumers. Spain provides a relevant example. The rapid development of solar and wind energy has significantly reduced the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and their influence on electricity price formation. As a result, in 2025 Spain recorded one of the most competitive average wholesale electricity prices in Europe, at approximately EUR 61/MWh, compared with EUR 107/MWh in Romania.
For the benefits of renewable energy generation to be reflected more fully in final consumer bills, electricity consumption patterns must also adapt. This requires greater demand-side flexibility and the introduction of dynamic tariffs, encouraging part of the demand to shift towards periods when electricity generation is abundant and less expensive, while reducing pressure on the system during peak hours.
“There are no miracle solutions that can be implemented overnight and deliver lasting results. Today, we must work together to overcome these periods of pressure on the power system, while also defining the measures that will prevent us from facing the same situation again next year or in the years ahead. This is not the time to look for someone to blame. We must identify medium- and long-term solutions and begin working seriously on their implementation”, Andrei Manea concluded.
About the Romanian Photovoltaic and Storage Industry Association (RPIA)
The Romanian Photovoltaic and Storage Industry Association (RPIA) represents Romania's photovoltaic and energy storage sector. Through dialogue with public authorities, policy recommendations and the promotion of industry best practices, RPIA supports the development of a competitive, resilient and sustainable energy sector, while contributing to Romania's clean energy transition.
