Romania Enters Offshore Wind Energy - Law Comes Into Force at The End of May

Bucharest, Romania - Romania wants to play a leading role in the use of offshore wind energy in the Black Sea. At the beginning of April 2024, the Chamber of Deputies passed one of the most important energy laws of recent years in plenary session: the Romanian Offshore Wind Energy Law.

According to World Bank data, Romania has an offshore potential of 76 GW (76,000 MW) of wind power capacity. With a new law, the Romanian government now wants to take on a pioneering role and pave the way for offshore wind power generation in the Black Sea.

Romania launches framework law for the use of offshore wind energy

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis signed the decree adopting the offshore wind energy law on 30.04.2024. The law will enter into force within 30 days, i.e. on May 30, 2024. The adoption of a legal framework enabling the exploitation of Romania's offshore wind resources is a crucial step to ensure Romania's energy independence and resilience, the Romanian Ministry of Energy announced.

Romania launches framework law on the use of offshore wind energy Romanian President Klaus Iohannis signed the decree adopting the offshore wind energy law on April 30, 2024. The law will enter into force within 30 days, i.e. on May 30, 2024. The adoption of a legal framework enabling the exploitation of Romania's offshore wind resources is a crucial step to ensure Romania's energy independence and resilience, the Romanian Ministry of Energy announced.

Sebastian Burduja, Minister of Energy emphasizes: "Romania has taken the straight path towards offshore wind energy production in the Black Sea. At the pace set by the draft law, we will be able to utilize the first MW of offshore wind energy in the national energy system in 2032. At the same time, the production of offshore wind energy will allow us to strengthen the Romanian industry through the domestic production of green hydrogen and value-added products based on green ammonia."

Offshore wind study on the designation of areas and awarding of concession contracts from 2025

In order to enable investments in offshore wind energy in the Black Sea, the Romanian Ministry of Energy will commission an expert study within three months of the law coming into force, on the basis of which the concession procedure and the activities for the exploration, construction and operation of offshore wind turbines will be prepared.

On the basis of the expert study, the Romanian government intends to define the framework conditions for the use of offshore wind energy by March 31, 2025 and to approve the subsequent laws implementing the law by June 30, 2025. On this operational basis, the Ministry of Energy will then initiate a competitive procedure for the award of concession contracts.

Also by June 30, 2025, the Romanian government will determine the amount of license fees to be paid by the concessionaires to the Romanian state, which will be determined based on the results of the study conducted by the Ministry of Energy.

The implementation of offshore wind energy projects in Romania involves not only the Ministry of Energy, but also the competent supervisory authority for operations, the Ministry of Environment, Transelectrica, ANRE, the Ministry of Defense and the border police, among others.

Source: IWR Online, 13 May 2024