Romania link to enable 685MW renewable additions

Romanian transmission system operator (TSO) Transelectrica expects a planned new 400kV line in southeast Romania to allow the installation of 685MW of renewable capacity in the future.

The Constanta Nord-Medgidia Sud line would improve the security, flexibility and adequacy of the grid in the Dobrogea region, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 16,000 t/yr, according to Transelectrica. The company said in May that the link would be operational in 2026, although in early August it included the project in the list of 20 strategic grid developments that it wants to expedite. No details were released on the planned new commissioning dates of these projects.

The Constanta Nord-Medgidia Sud line is one of the first developments Romania is requesting financing for from the EU's Modernisation Fund, a programme aimed at helping 10 eastern member states to meet 2030 energy targets. The energy ministry has applied for €23mn for the link and is also seeking €469.6mn in funding for the €670.8mn development of eight solar plants of around 700MW combined that state-owned thermal generator CE Oltenia wants to build as part of its restructuring.

Romania expects domestic wind and solar capacities to rise to nearly 5.3GW and 5.1GW in 2030, respectively, from less than 3GW and 1.4GW in 2020, under the government's energy and climate plan released last year. Transelectrica granted technical connection permits earlier this year for at least one solar facility with a capacity of 67.5MW, which would come on line in 2022, and three wind farms with a combined capacity of 879MW that are scheduled for commissioning in 2024-26.

In another grid development, Transelectrica is expecting the under-construction 400kV Portile de Fier-Resita line in the country's southwest to eventually allow the installation of about 1GW of renewable capacity, it said in June. This project has suffered several delays in recent years but was around 60pc complete in mid-summer, the company said. The 117km link is scheduled for completion in 2024, Transelectrica said in its development plan for 2020-29.

By Bela Finczkiczki