Energy in Romania

Coal Mine, Pinoasa Gorj-Romania

Energy in Romania describes energy production, consumption and import in Romania.

Romania has significant oil and gas reserves, substantial coal deposits and it has considerable installed hydroelectric power. However, Romania imports oil and gas from Russia and other countries. To ease this dependency Romania seeks to use nuclear power as an alternative for electricity generation.

## Overview

[edit]

Electric power in Romania is dominated by government enterprises, although privately operated coal mines and oil refineries also existed. Accordingly, Romania placed an increasingly heavy emphasis on developing nuclear power generation. Electric power was provided by the Romanian Electric Power Corporation (CONEL). Energy sources used in electric power generation consisted primarily of nuclear, coal, oil, and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The country has two nuclear reactors, located at Cernavodă, generating about 18–20% of the country's electricity production.

## Statistics

[edit]

2020 energy statistics[1]       |       |  Natural Gas
(billion m3)  | Consumption | 11.09

|

Production | 10.37
Import | 2.80
Export | 0.01
|  Crude Oil
(barrels per day)  | Consumption | 222,200

|

Production | 74,000
Import | 161,600
Export | 1,400

CO2 emissions:
68.66 million tons

## Energy strategy

[edit]

A review of the energy strategy took place in 2022.

Gas production currently around 25m m3/d with a potential for increase from the 100billion m3 on shore reserves. Offshore reserves are estimated at 40billion m3. There is a potential for LNG production and Romania could become a major energy supplier to Europe.[2]

Renewable energy:

* 208 hydrological plants produce about 30% of Romania's energy.
* Wind, photovoltaic and biomass produce 16% of Romania's energy and is expected to rise to 30%.[2]

Nuclear energy: Currently producing around 20% of Romanian needs, two new reactors are scheduled to be built with help from the USA.[2]

Interconnectivity: Improved connections for the supply of gas and electricity to/from neighbouring countries are planned.

## Fossil fuels

[edit]

### Oil

[edit]

Main article: Petrochemical industry in Romania

Romania's oil production peaked in the 1970s. Romania's gas production peaked in the 1980s.

Possessing substantial oil refining capacities, Romania is particularly interested in the Central Asia – Europe pipelines and seeks to strengthen its relations with some Persian Gulf states. Refining capacity was reduced by 2018, with just 5 refineries remaining and an overall refining capacity of approximately 13.7Mt per annum. Romania's refining capacity far exceeds domestic demand for refined petroleum products, allowing the country to export a wide range of oil products and petrochemicals—such as lubricants, bitumen, and fertilizers—throughout the region.[3]

### Gas

[edit]

Main article: Natural gas in Romania

Romania has large natural gas reserves and produces most of the gas for the countries needs.

The national natural gas transmission system in Romania is owned by Transgaz a state-owned company.

Interconnector pipelines connect Romania with Hungary, Bulgaria, Ukraine and onward connections to Turkey, Greece, North Macedonia, Azerbaijan and Austria.

## Electric power

[edit]

This section is an excerpt from Electricity sector in Romania.[edit]

About 15% of the final consumption of energy in Romania is consumed as electricity.[4]

In accordance with EU directives and climate control ambitions, additional effort and money was put into improving renewable energy sources. The target of 24% renewable energy was reached in 2020.[5]

Since the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine the need to strengthen and diversify sources of electricity was given a boost. A target of 30.7% renewable energy generation has been set, to be achieved by 2030; however thereare plans to increase this to 34%.[5]

Consumption in 2022 was 51.7089 TWh (terawatt hours), 7.2% less than 2021. 7.3251 million TWh were exported in 2022.[5]

In 2022 and 2023 improved connections were with neighbouring Moldova, bringing it into the European grid, with Romania supplying Moldova with electricity.[6]

Electricity transmission system operator Transelectrica is scheduled to have a 3 GW wind energy capacity by 2026.[7] 1.9 GW of offshore wind is planned for 2027-28.

## Nuclear

[edit]

Main article: Nuclear power in Romania

Romania has two nuclear reactors located at Cernavodă with 1,300 MW capacity, the first became operational in 1996, the second in 2007. In 2020 nuclear produced 11.5 TWh of electricity, being 20% of Romania's electricity generation.[8]

Nuclear waste is stored on site at reprocessing facilities.

## Renewable energy

[edit]

Years in which the last three renewable power levels achieved  Achievement | Year | Achievement | Year | Achievement | Year

|
|
|
|
|

10% | 1996 | 15% | 1997 | 20% | 2008[1]

Renewable energy includes wind, solar, biomass and geothermal energy sources.

### Solar power

[edit]

Main article: Solar power in Romania

Solar power expanded in 2013 but for the next 10 years remained fairly static with around 1,300 MW capacity. Plans from 2023 include a doubling of capacity after the law was changed in 2023 making it easier to obtain planning permission.[9]

### Biomass

[edit]

Biomass provides around 1% of electricity generation capacity.

## Climate change

[edit]

Development of carbon dioxide emissions

In the decade between 1989 and 1999, Romania saw decrease of its greenhouse gas emissions by 55%. This can be accounted for by a 45% decrease in energy use due to languishing economy, and a 15% decrease in its carbon intensity of energy use. In this period of time the carbon intensity of Romania's economy decreased by 40%, while Romania's GDP declined 15%. Romania's GDP has recovered significantly since then.[10]

There has been a big push towards renewable energy.

## See also

[edit]

* Energy policy of Romania
* Geothermal power in Romania
* Hydroelectricity in Romania
* Renewable energy by country

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Energy in Romania.

* Energy portal
* Romania portal

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Energy consumption in Romania". 2020.
2. ^ a b c "Momentum for change in the Romanian energy sector". 5 December 2022.
3. ^ "Petrochemical industry in Romania". 21 May 2018.
4. ^ "Romania - Countries & Regions". IEA. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
5. ^ a b c "The Renewable Energy Law Review: Romania". 20 July 2023.
6. ^ "Romania to Supply Power to Moldova After Ukraine Facilities Bombed". 13 October 2022.
7. ^ "Romanian grid ready for 3 GW in wind power connections by 2026". Retrieved 8 August 2023.
8. ^ "Nuclear Power in Romania". June 2023.
9. ^ "Solar park of over 1 GW in Romania to include 500 MW in batteries". 23 February 2023.
10. ^ Climate Analysis Indicators Tool (CAIT)

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High capacity power stations in Romania

(more than 100 MW installed capacity)

Thermal|

| Coal and oil|

* Turceni \- 1,320 MW
* Rovinari \- 990 MW
* Ișalnița \- 315 MW
* Craiova II \- 300 MW
* Borzești II \- 250 MW
* Halânga \- 247 MW
* Oradea \- 205 MW
* Paroșeni \- 150 MW
* Giurgiu \- 150 MW
* Pitești Sud \- 136 MW
* Arad \- 112 MW
* Brașov \- 100 MW
* Suceava \- 100 MW

|

Natural gas|

* Petrom Brazi \- 860 MW
* Borzești \- 655 MW
* Bucharest South \- 550 MW
* Galați \- 535 MW
* Bucharest West \- 310 MW
* Iernut \- 300 MW
* Alum Tulcea \- 250 MW
* Fântânele \- 250 MW
* Buzău \- 207 MW
* Govora \- 200 MW
* Progresu \- 200 MW
* Iaşi I \- 150 MW
* Brazi II \- 150 MW
* Brazi \- 130 MW
* Grozăvești \- 100 MW
* Iaşi II \- 100 MW
* Holboca \- 100 MW
* Palas \- 100 MW
* Mintia-Deva

|

Hydroelectric|

* Iron Gate I \- 1,168 MW
* Tarnița – Lăpuștești \- 1,000 MW
* Iron Gate II \- 591 MW
* Lotru-Ciunget \- 510 MW
* Râul Mare \- 335 MW
* Mărișelu \- 221 MW
* Vidraru \- 220 MW
* Bicaz-Stejaru \- 210 MW
* Ruieni \- 153 MW
* Nehoiașu \- 152 MW
* Oașa \- 150 MW
* Șugag \- 150 MW
* Remeți \- 146 MW
* Brădișor \- 115 MW
* Tismana \- 106 MW

Nuclear|

* Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant \- 1,300 MW

Wind farms|

* Sinus Holding \- 700 MW
* Fântânele-Cogealac \- 600 MW
* Blackstone \- 500 MW
* Deleni \- 500 MW
* Eolica Cogealac \- 448 MW
* Mărişelu \- 300 MW
* Eolica Săcele \- 252 MW
* Eolica Casimcea \- 244 MW
* Văcăreni \- 240 MW
* Verbund Casimcea \- 225 MW
* Green Energy \- 200 MW
* Pechea \- 150 MW
* Sabloal Valea Dacilor \- 147 MW
* EDP Cernavodă \- 138 MW
* Eolica Beidaud \- 128 MW
* Eolica Baia \- 126 MW
* Eolica Sarichioi \- 102 MW
* Gheorgheni \- 100 MW

Solar parks|

* Arad 1 \- 1044 MW
* CEF Nadab 1 \- 363 MW
* CEF Nadab 2 \- 302 MW
* CEF Bucșsani \- 221 MW
* CEF Corbii Mari \- 217 MW
* CEF Iepurești \- 165 MW
* Rătești  \- 155 MW
* CEF Vadeni 1 \- 145 MW
* CEF Vadeni 2 \- 145 MW
* CEF Calugăreni 2 \- 121 MW
* CEF Dobra \- 117 MW
* CEF Vacarești \- 108 MW

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