Romania: A hidden powerhouse in Europe’s energy transition
7 min read
As Europe races toward a decarbonized future, Romania is stepping into the spotlight as a nation with untapped energy reserves and strategic potential. Long known for its conventional energy legacy, the country is now poised to become a regional leader in the renewable energy transition. With a rich mix of natural gas, hydropower, solar, wind, and emerging technologies like green hydrogen and battery storage, Romania holds the keys to energy security and sustainability in Southeast Europe.
Romania’s energy history is as deep as its reserves. It was the world’s first country to produce crude oil commercially and has operated natural gas fields since the early 20th century. Today, it stands as the EU’s top gas producer, after surpassing the Netherlands in 2023, a status that will be further bolstered when the Neptun Deep gas field in the Black Sea comes online in 2027.
While natural gas is seen as a critical transition fuel, Romania’s real long-term opportunity lies in its abundant renewable resources. The Ministry of Energy’s current strategy envisions a forward-looking energy mix, one that balances its fossil fuel legacy with aggressive investments in clean technologies.
Romania boasts the largest untapped onshore wind power potential in the European Union. With over 21,000 km² of land suitable for wind farms, the country could generate up to 240 TWh annually from wind energy alone — more than four times its current total electricity consumption. The coastal Dobrogea region is already recognized as a regional wind powerhouse, and future developments in both onshore and offshore wind — particularly in the Black Sea — promise significant capacity expansions.
Solar
Southern and eastern Romania, including regions like Dobrogea and Oltenia, enjoy high solar irradiation and are well-suited for large-scale photovoltaic deployment. With nearly 7.6% of its land area deemed suitable for ground-mounted solar PV systems, Romania ranks second in the EU in terms of land availability. A 2024 report identified Romania among the top five EU nations with the highest untapped solar generation potential — alongside Spain, France, Portugal, and Italy.
Hydropower
Despite environmental constraints reducing the economically viable hydropower potential, Romania still derives nearly 28% of its electricity from this source. Upgrading aging infrastructure and investing in pumped hydro storage could help stabilize the grid while complementing more variable sources like wind and solar.
Biomass and Biofuels
Biomass represents another underdeveloped asset. Although Romania has an estimated biomass potential equivalent to 7.6 million tonnes of oil equivalent annually, it remains reliant on imported biofuels. Investments in biomethane production could help offset gas imports — with the European Commission projecting the potential to replace up to 80% of Romania’s gas imports with locally produced biomethane by 2030.
Geothermal and Hydrogen
Romania’s geothermal resources are underutilized, primarily due to high upfront costs and limited public support. Similarly, hydrogen is mostly used in industrial processes and produced via fossil fuels. However, Romania is among the EU countries exploring green hydrogen and synthetic methane as long-term decarbonization tools, supported by EU funds and pilot projects involving electrolysis.
Romania’s current energy mix is one of the most diverse in the region. As of 2025, installed capacity totals over 18.6 GW, split among coal, gas, nuclear, hydropower, solar, wind, and biomass. Nuclear power — powered by two CANDU reactors at Cernavodă — accounts for about 10% of electricity generation, with plans to expand through two additional units and new small modular reactor (SMR) projects in cooperation with U.S. partners.
Solar capacity has more than doubled over the last year, driven by a booming prosumer market and falling technology costs. Battery storage is also gaining momentum, with 400 MWh already integrated into the grid as of April 2025. By 2035, storage is expected to reach 2 GW, with projections of 4.5 GW by 2045 to enable deeper renewable integration.
Ambitious goals come with steep funding needs. Romania’s Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (PNIESC) forecasts €4.2 trillion in total energy-related investments through 2050. Of this, around €140 billion is earmarked for building upgrades and €400 billion for transport infrastructure.
To bridge the gap, Romania is leveraging EU funding mechanisms:
€1.6 billion from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan for renewables and hydrogen-ready infrastructure
€16 billion from the EU Modernization Fund by 2030 for energy efficiency and grid upgrades
€6 billion from the forthcoming Social Climate Fund to address the energy transition’s social impacts
Private sector involvement will be vital. Romania’s regulatory framework must evolve to simplify permitting, attract foreign capital, and support emerging technologies like Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), green hydrogen, and AI-based grid optimization tools.
As variable renewables expand, balancing the grid becomes more complex — and more valuable. The rise of energy aggregators and smart grid solutions is helping Romania move toward a more flexible and responsive power system. Demand-side response, energy storage, and flexible generation sources like gas and hydro are all being integrated into a broader flexibility strategy.
VPPs — networks of decentralized generation and storage systems — are gaining traction, offering a way to pool smaller assets into virtual utility-scale power plants. These technologies, combined with digital platforms and real-time data, will be crucial in maintaining system stability while enabling higher renewable penetration.
Romania has everything it needs to become a clean energy leader in Central and Eastern Europe: vast renewable resources, strategic location, a balanced energy mix, and access to significant EU funding. But turning this potential into reality depends on political will, investor confidence, and a regulatory environment that supports innovation.
With the right mix of policy, technology, and capital, Romania can play a defining role in Europe’s energy future — delivering not just power, but also prosperity, resilience, and climate progress.
All these developments — from Romania’s diverse renewable portfolio to its commitment to modernization and flexibility — create a fertile ground for battery energy storage systems (BESS). With rising renewable penetration, increasing demand for grid stability, and growing investor interest, BESS will be a cornerstone of Romania’s energy transformation. As storage economics continue to improve and regulatory frameworks evolve, Romania is well-positioned to become one of the most dynamic storage markets in Europe. For developers and investors alike, the opportunity is not just emerging — it’s accelerating.
At Re-Twin Energy, we support energy storage and renewable project developers in navigating complexity and maximizing returns with the help of advanced AI-powered analytics. Learn more about our tools and insights at re-twin.energy.
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