The new legislative changes create an even more favorable framework for prosumers, but neither regulation nor technological progress alone will be sufficient without a change in mindset. Consumers must learn to align their consumption with their production — using large appliances during the day, charging their electric car when the sun is shining, and adjusting their thermal comfort according to the available energy flow.

“The energy transition is not just about panels and batteries; it’s about changing behavior. We have to learn to consume when we produce,” explained Andrei Bucur, Deputy CEO of Nordestina, in a conversation with Gabriel Avăcăriței at Energynomics Talks.

In the right direction

The most important improvement concerns the reduction of settlement times for energy delivered to the grid. “It was absurd – basically, the prosumer became the energy supplier’s creditor,” noted Bucur, referring to the previous mechanism under which compensation was granted only after 24 months.

The process will now be carried out within a much shorter timeframe, providing greater liquidity and predictability for PV system owners. Moreover, the new law allows energy generated in one location to offset consumption at other points within the same distribution area. In practice, electricity produced at a holiday home could reduce the bill of a city apartment if both are connected to the same distribution operator.

Another significant novelty is the possibility to offset gas bills with surplus electricity injected into the grid, for customers who have the same supplier for both energy sources. It is an innovative step in the context of the broader electrification trend, but its practical implementation remains to be seen. As Bucur points out, “There are few suppliers active in both electricity and gas, and the business lines are entirely different.”

All these measures increase flexibility and lay the groundwork for more efficient energy management, yet they also introduce new risks. “When the law allows you to produce in one place and consume in others, it’s easy to be tempted to oversize your system,” warns Bucur. “The true prosumer is not the one who produces the most, but the one who manages energy intelligently.”

Balancing production and consumption

Essentially, a prosumer should generate energy primarily for self-consumption, not turn the grid into a source of income.

“The idea behind prosumerism is to cover your own annual consumption. If you produce five times more than you use, you’re no longer a prosumer — you’re a commercial generator,” explains Bucur.

The absence of clear rules in this regard risks distorting grid operation and blurring the definition of prosumer status. Romania still lacks regulation establishing a required ratio between energy consumed and energy delivered to the grid. Bucur proposes introducing a minimum self-consumption threshold of 60–70% per year, inspired by best practices under the AFIR program. Under that scheme, only projects demonstrating that at least 70% of the energy produced was consumed on-site during the year were eligible for funding — a rule designed to promote efficiency and prevent artificial oversizing.

“It seems reasonable and fair to have a minimum consumption requirement at the location or locations served,” Bucur said, emphasizing that such a measure would bring greater system stability and reduce congestion risks in areas with rapidly expanding PV capacity. “It’s essential not to build capacity just for the sake of it. Every system must be calibrated to the user’s real needs; otherwise, we risk overloading the grid and undermining the meaning of prosumerism.”

From batteries to grid – paving the way for vehicle-to-grid technology

The transition toward smarter consumption cannot be complete without the integration of storage, Bucur emphasizes. He sees this segment as the next major step for the Romanian market. “Today, we talk more about batteries than photovoltaics. All existing systems need to be hybridized — otherwise, we can’t manage generation during peak hours.” In his view, storage is no longer an optional add-on but a prerequisite for system stability.

Batteries have become the heart of a balanced photovoltaic system, capable of absorbing excess energy during the day and releasing it when consumption rises. As equipment prices fall, technical solutions diversify — from residential and commercial storage systems to the integration of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies, which enable electric vehicle batteries to power homes or support the grid.

“A megawatt of storage today costs almost as much as a megawatt of panels, but it does twice as much: it provides flexibility, balances the grid, and reduces exposure to market volatility,” Bucur explains. He argues that Romania should quickly prepare a legal framework to allow bidirectional energy flows, so that an electric vehicle becomes not only a consumer but also a temporary energy supplier.

V2G technology is already being piloted in several European countries — including the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany — where electric cars serve as mobile micro-batteries supporting the grid during peak periods. In Romania, this functionality is still legally impossible due to the absence of regulations governing energy flow reversal, supply licensing, and equipment standardization.

“We need to start viewing the electric car not just as a vehicle, but as part of the energy system,” Bucur insists. “For that, we need clear legislation to enable controlled testing and the connection of vehicles to the grid.”

Introducing such a framework would bring multiple benefits: reducing grid pressure during peak hours, using existing storage capacity more efficiently, and fostering a new model of active consumer participation in system balancing. Within a few years, V2G could turn every electric car into a stability tool — an essential piece in the architecture of a decentralized and flexible energy system.

Themes for the future

In Bucur’s view, the next steps toward market maturity should be clearly reflected in future legislation. He highlights the need for a legal framework enabling vehicle-to-grid integration, allowing electric vehicle batteries to act as temporary energy sources for homes or the grid. At the same time, it is vital to clarify the prosumer’s legal status, distinguishing between self-consumption and commercial generation.

Finally, Bucur stresses the urgency of strengthening quality control and verification frameworks for photovoltaic installations — through technical standards and regular inspections — to ensure that Romania’s energy transition is not only fast, but also safe.