Transelectrica’s investment plan is substantial, encompassing 117 investment projects; however, their total value has not been disclosed. This is according to the company’s specifications in “Annex F-2” of the “2026–2035 Transmission Grid Development Plan” (PDRET)—a document reviewed by Energynomics that is set to be approved by shareholders on November 9.
The plan, which received approval from the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) last month, includes projects for a subsea cable to Georgia and a high-voltage cable to Hungary.
Furthermore, the document does not specify a total investment value, focusing instead on long-term cost benefits (SEW). The Romanian state is the dominant shareholder in Transelectrica, holding a 58.6% stake. Other shareholders include individuals (over 6.4%), legal entities (over 28.3%), and Paval Holding—owned by the proprietors of Dedeman and Carrefour, who are also developers of large-scale and rooftop solar parks. This is what ANRE stated upon the approval of the Transmission Grid Development Plan (PDRET) on September 4: “The National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) has approved the Transmission Grid Development Plan for the 2026–2035 period (PDRET)—a document that outlines Transelectrica’s investment roadmap for the national electricity transmission infrastructure over the coming decade.
The plan encompasses 117 investment projects, 25 of which are entirely new initiatives. These focus on modernizing power lines and substations, closing the 400 kV national ring, increasing transmission and interconnection capacity, and digitizing the grid.”
Interconnection exceeds EU target, yet falls short of cross-border capacity goals
ANRE officials further note that Romania’s interconnection level reached 18.5% in 2024, surpassing the European target of 15%. However, the 2025 monitoring report indicates that the targets set for increasing the minimum capacity available for cross-border trade—aiming for 70% of the capacity of critical grid elements—have not been fully met at the borders with Hungary and Bulgaria.
Consequently, through the decision approving the PDRET, ANRE has mandated that Transelectrica implement an accelerated schedule for the completion of outstanding projects—projects that are included in both the Development Plan and the Action Plan for increasing cross-border capacity. The program must be submitted by Transelectrica within 30 days and will be monitored quarterly by ANRE. It is expected to demonstrate how various solutions—including modern technologies such as Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) and High-Temperature Low-Sag (HTLS) conductors—contribute to increasing the capacity available for cross-border trade.
“We have approved a plan that is not merely a list of investments, but a commitment to prepare the Romanian transmission grid for the energy landscape of the coming decade. The objectives include greater renewable energy generation, increased storage capacity, and fewer system bottlenecks. We have placed special emphasis on interconnections, requiring Transelectrica to accelerate work on outstanding projects. I would like this measure to be understood correctly: while Romania has already surpassed the European target for interconnection levels, recent experience highlights just how critical interconnection capacity is for navigating challenging periods for the National Power System (SEN)—such as times when there is a temporary need for higher volumes of electricity imports. Therefore, the goal should not simply be to meet the EU target, but to maximize cross-border capacity,” stated George Niculescu, President of ANRE.
The approval of the PDRET (Transmission Grid Development Plan) marks the transition from high-level national and European strategic objectives to a concrete portfolio of investments, the implementation of which will be monitored by ANRE.
In practical terms, the PDRET facilitates:
• the connection and integration of new generation and storage capacities;
• the transmission of energy from regions rich in renewable resources to consumption centers;
• the reduction of grid congestion. • flexibility tools for producers, storage facilities, and consumers;
• a more secure and resilient national electricity grid;
• deeper integration of Romania into the European energy market;
• greater predictability for investors and industrial consumers.
The PDRET 2026–2035 translates Romania’s commitments—stemming from the European Ten-Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP), Projects of Common Interest and Mutual Interest (PCI/PMI), the National Energy Strategy, and the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIESC)—into concrete projects.
Eight of the projects included in the Plan, comprising 25 individual works, are Projects of Common Interest and Mutual Interest developed within the framework of ENTSO-E’s coordinated planning. These include the Romania–Hungary interconnection (PCI 2.5) and the CARMEN smart grid project (PCI 12.2), which introduces advanced technologies for monitoring, automation, and the control of energy flows.
