Romania

Key facts

Romania produces 57 982 GWh of electricity per year [1]

Romania exports 5.2% of its electricity production

Romania is 15% electrified

 

The Romanian electricity to gas price ratio is 3.1 for industry and 4.1 for households. [2]

The Romanian electricity mix is split between
  • Hydropower
  • Nuclear
  • Natural Gas
  • Coal
  • Wind
  • Solar PV
  • Other

Current state of electrification

Residential buildings in Romania

Buildings

  • Buildings represent the majority of the electricity consumption with [3]
    • 32% of the electricity consumption for residential
    • 25% for commercial and public services
  • There is data gap regarding the number of heat pumps installed in Romania but recent study indicates that approximately 8.4% of surveyed households have a heat pump installed [4]

Industry

  • Industry represents 40% of the electricity consumption [5]
  • The most electricity intensive industries are: [6]
    • Chemical and petrochemical industry: 3.8 to 4.5 TWh | 20% to 23% of industrial electricity
    • Basic metals and steel production: 3.2 to 3.8 TWh | 17% to 20% of industrial electricity
    • Machinery, equipment, and automotive manufacturing: 2.8 to 3.4 TWh | 15% to 18% of industrial electricity
Transport — from the design

Transport

  • Transport represents 2% of the electricity consumption [7]
  • The data for the total number of vehicles is coming from the Romanian National Institute of Statistics [8]
  • The electric fleet is composed of: [9]
  • 60 909 cars (+5 517 year on year) — this represents 0.76% of the ~8.0 million passenger cars on Romanian roads
  • 3632 light commercial vehicles 5+328 year on year) — this represents roughly 0.36% of the ~1.0 million light commercial vehicles on Romanian roads
  • 1987 buses (+215 year on year) — this represents roughly 4.97% of the ~40 000 buses and minibuses on Romanian roads
  • 80 trucks (+18 year on year) — this represents roughly 0.05% of the ~150 000 heavy commercial trucks on Romanian roads
  • 1878 light vehicles (+100 year on year) — this represents roughly 1.57% of the ~120 000 motorcycles, mopeds, and light vehicles under 4 wheels on Romanian

Grid and flexibility

Transmission & Distribution

Romania’s electric grid is undergoing a pivotal transition marked by capacity congestion and major regulatory overhauls, driven largely by a rapid surge of over 360,000 prosumers contributing more than 4 GW in rooftop solar that strains underfunded distribution networks. [10]
To alleviate bottlenecks and clear speculative projects holding connection permits without active development, grid operator Transelectrica and regulator ANRE implemented a competitive auction-based capacity allocation system replacing the former “first come, first served” model.
While this reform aims to streamline grid access and direct auction revenues toward network reinforcement, national strategic estimates highlight that Romania still requires between €40 billion and €50 billion in infrastructure investments by 2030 across grid modernisation, BESS, and cross-border interconnections to maintain system stability and absorb new renewable generation [11] [12]

Storage

Romania’s electricity storage landscape is expanding rapidly, driven by national ambitions to reach between 2.5 GW and 5 GW of operating storage power to balance its grid and absorb growing solar PV capacity.
While total operational battery storage currently stands at megawatt-hours scale, utility-scale projects are rapidly entering the market highlighted by large-scale additions such as Repono’s 202 MW / 404 MWh facility in Argeș County.
Supported by over €380 million in grants from the EU Modernization Fund and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), Romania is also enforcing a mandatory annual auction capacity allocation mechanism through transmission operator Transelectrica to prevent grid congestion and prioritise mature battery storage projects. [13] [14] [15]

Smart meters

As of 2026, there are approximately 3.5 million to 4 million smart electricity meters installed across Romania. Out of Romania’s roughly 9.5 to 10 million total electricity consumption points, this places national smart meter penetration at around 35% to 40% [16] [17]

Support schemes

Industrial Process Electrification & Energy Efficiency
PNRR Component 6 & EU Modernisation Fund – Industrial Energy Efficiency [18]

Direct capital grants covering up to 50%–70% of eligible CapEx (varies by enterprise size and regional aid map).

  • Open to industrial facilities substituting fossil fuel heat/boilers with electrical equipment (industrial heat pumps, electric furnaces, waste heat recovery).
  • Requires demonstrated primary energy savings of at least 30% across the target industrial process.
Large Industry Decarbonization & Clean-Tech Manufacturing
Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF) & Modernisation Fund [19]

Competitive grant packages exceeding €380M total budget; co-financing 35%–50% of CapEx.

  • Targets heavy manufacturing (steel, chemical, cement) adopting zero-emission tech or expanding production lines for net-zero components (electrolysers, BESS).
  • Requires strict compliance with EU “Do No Significant Harm” (DNSH) environmental criteria.
Residential Retrofits, Heat Pumps & Solar PV
Casa Verde Fotovoltaice & Casa Eficientă Energetic / Casa Verde Plus (AFM) [20]
  • Heat Pumps: Up to 70% of eligible costs (capped at RON 40,000 / ~€8,000).
  • PV & Storage: Grants up to RON 30,000 (~€6,000).
  • Covers single-family homes replacing inefficient boilers with high-efficiency air-to-water or ground-source heat pumps (min. COP 3.0, A++ rating).
  • Installations must be performed by AFM-validated technical contractors.
Energy Vulnerable Household Retrofits
REPowerEU Household Vouchers (MIPE – Ministry of Investments & European Projects) [21]
  • Thermal Insulation (Axis I): Vouchers up to RON 72,500 (~€14,500).
  • PV & Storage (Axis II): Vouchers up to RON 25,500 (~€5,100).
  • Exclusively targets energy-vulnerable households and low-income property owners.
  • Provides up to 100% co-financing for building envelope insulation and self-consumption PV.
SME, Commercial & HORECA Self-Consumption
Electric Up Program (Ministry of Energy) [22]

Non-repayable grants up to €150,000 per beneficiary (covering up to 75% of eligible project costs).

  • For SMEs and hospitality businesses installing 27 kW–150 kW rooftop PV arrays.
  • Requires mandatory inclusion of at least two EV charging stations (min. 22 kW AC / 50 kW DC) and optional storage.
Electric Passenger Vehicles (BEVs)
Rabla Plus Program (AFM) [23]
  • BEVs: Grants up to RON 25,500 (~€5,100).
  • PHEVs: Grants up to RON 13,000 (~€2,600).
  • Open to private individuals and corporate entities.
  • Requires scrapping an ICE vehicle older than 6 years.
  • Vehicle purchase price capped to promote mass-market adoption.
Utility-Scale Renewables & Grid Storage
Romanian CfD Scheme & PNRR / Modernisation Fund Storage Tenders [24]
  • CfD: 15-year strike price protection for wind and solar.
  • BESS Grants: €150M scheme covering up to 100% of eligible CapEx.
  • Grid connection rights and grant access managed via Transelectrica’s competitive capacity tenders to prevent grid congestion.

Targets

Buildings

  • Romania aims to reach a 41.4% renewable energy share in heating and cooling by 2030, driven primarily by heat pump deployment, solar thermal systems, and deep thermal efficiency retrofits to achieve a 2% GHG reduction in the sector relative to 2019 levels. [25]

Transport

  • The updated NECP targets a 29.4% renewable energy share in transport by 2030, with renewable electricity accounting for over 70% of that target.

Industry

  • Romania targets a 77% decrease in industrial GHG emissions by 2030 relative to 1990 levels, focusing on fuel-switching from natural gas and coal to direct process electrification.

Gaps and Challenges

The primary structural bottleneck is severe transmission and distribution grid congestion, driven by an unprecedented surge of over 360,000 prosumers contributing more than 4 GW in rooftop solar. To eliminate speculative project queue hoarding, transmission operator Transelectrica and regulator ANRE transitioned from a “first-come, first-served” connection model to a competitive capacity allocation auction system for projects over 5 MW.

Buildings are the single largest consumer of electricity. Electrification is impeded by the electricity-to-gas price ratio, widespread reliance on cheap firewood and natural gas, and low thermal performance across legacy housing stock.

However, high upfront capital expenditure for high-temperature equipment, complex state-aid procedures, and delays in securing high-voltage grid capacity continue to slow down full industrial process electrification.

Assessment

Buildings

At risk

Buildings draw 57% of national electricity (32% residential, 25% commercial). Achieving the 41.4% renewable heating/cooling target by 2030 is threatened by uncompetitive electricity-to-gas price ratios, and poor thermal performance across legacy housing stock.

Transport

At risk

Electricity accounts for just 2% of total electricity consumption. While passenger BEVs (60,909 units) grow under Rabla Plus incentives, heavy commercial freight electrification is virtually unstarted (only 80 electric trucks), leaving the 29.4% renewable transport target by 2030 at risk.

Industry

On track

Industry accounts for 40% of electricity demand, concentrated in chemicals (21.5%), steel (18.2%), and paper (12.4%). Well-funded support mechanisms—including PNRR Component 6, EU Modernisation Fund grants (50%–70% CapEx), and the €380M+ Clean Industrial Deal framework—provide a clear roadmap to hit the 77% GHG reduction target by 2030.

Power system

On track

Romania maintains a diversified power generation mix (57,982 GWh) driven by hydro (32%), nuclear (19%), and wind (13%), allowing the country to export 5.2% of its production while supplying a low-carbon electricity baseline for sector coupling.

Grids

At risk

A massive influx of over 360,000 prosumers (>4 GW solar) has caused distribution grid congestion, requiring €40B–€50B in network investments by 2030. However, the implementation of ANRE capacity auctions, 3.5M–4M smart meters (35%–40% coverage), and a 2.5 GW–5 GW storage target (backed by €380M+ BESS grants) establish a structured plan to relieve network bottlenecks.

Policy framework

On track

Romania enforces a comprehensive regulatory framework featuring NECP sectoral targets, AFM programs (Casa Verde, Rabla Plus), Electric Up, and structured CfD/BESS capacity tenders to drive systemic national decarbonization.

  1. 1IEA, “Country profile: Romania”, accessible here.
  2. 2European Commission, “Electrification Action Plan”, accessible here.
  3. 3IEA, “Country profile: Romania”, accessible here.
  4. 4Business Forum, “Over 27% of Romanians interested in buying heat pumps”, accessible here.
  5. 5IEA, “Country profile: Romania”, accessible here.
  6. 6Eurostat, “energy balances”, accessible here.
  7. 7IEA, “Country profile: Romania”, accessible here.
  8. 8National Institute of Statistics, “Transport”, accessible here
  9. 9European Commission, “Alternative Fuels Observatory: Romania”, accessible here.
  10. 10Balkan Green Energy News, “Prosupmers: we are sustaining Romania’s energy system amid crisis”, accessible here.
  11. 11Iclg, “Romania: Securing access to the electricity grid in 2026”, accessible here.
  12. 12Aspen Institute Romania, “Regional energy security and Romania’s strategic role in Eastern Europe”, accessible here.
  13. 13Balkan Energy News, “Romania’s ambitious energy storage plans: 5 GW by end-2026”, accessible here.
  14. 14Gunvor, “Repono launches 202 MW BESS project in Romania”, accessible here.
  15. 15PV magazine, “Romania’s grid operator publishes rules for capacity auction”, accessible here.
  16. 16Retele electrice, “Rețele Electrice Romania reaches the threshold of 2 million smart meters by the end of the year”, accessible here.
  17. 17Economica, “DEER pregătește instalarea a circa 1,1 milioane de contoare inteligente”, accessible here.
  18. 18Ministerul Energiei, "PNRR – Componenta C6 Energie: Eficiența energetică în industrie (I5)", accessible here here
  19. 19Ministerul Energiei, "Fondul pentru Modernizare – Sprijin pentru decarbonizarea industriei și energie curată", accessible here here
  20. 20Administrația Fondului pentru Mediu (AFM), "Programul Casa Verde Fotovoltaice", accessible here here
  21. 21Ministerul Investițiilor și Proiectelor Europene (MIPE), "REPowerEU: Vouchere pentru eficiență energetică și sisteme fotovoltaice în gospodării vulnerabile", accessible here
  22. 22Ministerul Energiei, "Programul de finanțare Electric Up (IMM & HoReCa)", accessible here here
  23. 23Administrația Fondului pentru Mediu (AFM), "Programul Rabla Plus – Ghid de finanțare și vehicule electrice", accessible here here
  24. 24Ministerul Energiei, "PNRR – Contracte pentru Diferență (CfD) și Licitații de Stocare BESS", accessible here here
  25. 25European Commission, “NECP Romania”, accessible here.