Nine energy industry professionals have been nominated in the “Manager of the year” category at the Energynomics Awards 2026. The nominations highlight achievements in business development, investment management, expansion into new markets and organisational transformation, in a sector where managerial performance increasingly depends on the ability to take projects from planning through construction to operation.
The nominees lead companies with different business models, ranging from energy generation and supply to construction, electrical infrastructure and renewable energy services. The assessment criteria include demonstrated leadership, contribution to company growth, the introduction of new strategies and execution capabilities. Only one manager will receive the category award at the Energynomics Awards Gala on November 25, 2026, but every nomination deserves the attention of the energy community.
Adrian Dobre, Eurowind Energy Romania: 184 MW operational and new wind investments under construction
Adrian Dobre has led Eurowind Energy’s operations in Romania since 2014, helping transform the Danish group’s subsidiary from a project developer into an energy producer with operational assets and investments under construction. An aerospace engineer with a PhD in wind engineering obtained in Canada, he combines technical expertise with leadership responsibilities in an organisation that has been active in the renewables market for more than a decade.
In 2026, Eurowind Energy Romania reached 184 MW of operational capacity, including 60 MW of battery storage power, and began construction of three wind farms, Frumușița, Vector and Pecineaga Nord-Est, totalling 138 MW. The company commissioned the 48 MW Pecineaga wind farm and the 120 MWh energy storage system at Teiuș. Its development portfolio reached approximately 7.5 GW, while grid connection approvals were obtained in 2026 for projects totalling more than 2.3 GW. Under his leadership, Romania has become one of the group’s strategic investment markets, with plans to expand renewable generation and energy storage capacity.
Alex Pătrașcu, Scatec: from a three-person team to 267 MW under construction
Alex Pătrașcu, Country Manager of Scatec Romania, has overseen the company’s rapid expansion in the local market, following a 16-year international career in the oil and gas industry and offshore wind sector. His experience includes projects developed with DEME, Northland Power and partner companies of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners across Europe and Asia. In Romania, he built an organisation that, according to the nomination, grew from three people to approximately 40 specialists covering development, financing, procurement and construction.
In 2026, Scatec advanced a 267 MW portfolio towards construction, comprising the 190 MW Dobrun and Sadova photovoltaic parks and the 77 MW Urleasca wind farm. The projects benefit from bank financing and 15-year Contracts for Difference, supporting revenue predictability. Scatec is also preparing the 89 MW/178 MWh Buciumi standalone battery storage project, currently in the development and financial structuring stage. By combining solar, wind and BESS projects, Alex Pătrașcu has helped establish Romania as a European market for Scatec’s multi-technology investments, with the aim of expanding the portfolio in the coming years.
Alexandru Chiriță, Electrica: group diversification and record financial results
Alexandru Chiriță has led Electrica Group since 2022, during which time the company has expanded beyond its traditional electricity distribution and supply activities into renewable energy generation, storage and energy services. Under his leadership, the group closed 2025 with a net profit of 1.22 billion lei, approximately 2.6 times higher than the previous year. In the first half of 2026, net profit reached 457.5 million lei, up 8.6% compared with the same period in 2025.
The company’s transformation continued through the development of photovoltaic capacity and BESS projects, approval of a bond programme of up to one billion euros and entry into thermal energy generation through the Craiova cogeneration project. Alexandru Chiriță also promoted the “Ținem România Aprinsă” programme, aimed at making industrial electricity consumption more flexible, as well as Electrica’s intervention to secure energy supply for the Liberty Galați steelworks. Organisational development initiatives include the Shadow Volt programme, the educational projects of the Electrica Foundation and the Pact for Education in Energy initiative. The Board of Directors granted him a new term as CEO, running until 2031.
Alexandru Regenbogen, Shikun & Binui Energy: two operational solar parks and a portfolio exceeding 1 GW
Alexandru Regenbogen, Country Manager of Shikun & Binui Energy in Romania, oversees the Israeli group’s investment strategy in the local market. With more than 25 years of experience in finance and real estate, he transitioned into the renewable energy industry and contributed to developing projects from initial planning and permitting through construction and commercial operation.
Under his coordination, Shikun & Binui Energy commissioned the 71 MW Satu Mare photovoltaic park in 2025, followed in 2026 by the 104 MW Șimleu Silvaniei solar plant in Sălaj County. The two projects have a combined operational capacity of 175 MW, while the company is developing an additional portfolio of more than 1 GW in Romania. The nomination highlights Alexandru Regenbogen’s ability to manage projects with long development cycles, maintain relationships with financiers and partners, and turn planned investments into operational energy assets.
Eduard Meiloiu, ENEVO Group: managing a portfolio of 1.5 GWp of solar PV and 2 GWh of storage
Eduard Meiloiu is VP Renewables and a Board member of ENEVO Group, responsible for managing the company’s largest division. In 2026, the Renewables division is managing photovoltaic projects with a combined capacity of approximately 1.5 GWp and energy storage projects totalling 2 GWh, at various stages of development and implementation. The portfolio includes both commercial installations and power plants with capacities of several hundred megawatts, requiring the coordination of multidisciplinary technical and operational teams.
Eduard Meiloiu’s career progression within ENEVO reflects his transition from engineering responsibilities to leading a division operating in Romania and international markets. Under his coordination, the company is developing expertise in integrating renewable generation, battery storage and grid connection infrastructure. His management approach focuses on team development, resource planning and the integration of technical disciplines from the earliest project stages to reduce construction risks and support the expansion of ENEVO Group’s activities.
Giacomo Billi, Alive Capital: building an integrated regional energy platform
Founder and CEO of Alive Capital, Giacomo Billi oversaw the company’s return to full ownership by his investment holding company, Omnia Capital, in 2026, following its separation from Premier Energy. The transaction opened a new phase of independent development for the company he founded in 2013, which specialises in energy supply, aggregation, forecasting, dispatching, energy asset management and commercial optimisation of battery storage systems.
Under his leadership, Alive Capital has grown to manage nearly 2 GW of renewable capacity across 209 power plants and supplied approximately 2 TWh of energy in 2025, according to the nomination. In 2026, the company completed construction of the Stâlpu 1, Stâlpu 2, Nanov and Mihăilești projects, progressing towards testing and operation. Giacomo Billi’s strategy focuses on integrating technical, commercial and digital processes to enable producers and investors to manage their energy and market exposure more efficiently. Alive Capital is expanding its activities in Romania, Serbia and Hungary, with a focus on flexibility and energy storage.
Nicolae Constantin, WALDEVAR Energy: overseeing 25 construction sites and more than 2,000 specialists
Nicolae Constantin, Chief Operations Officer of WALDEVAR Energy, oversees the operations of an organisation expanding rapidly in the energy construction market. In 2026, the company is simultaneously managing more than 25 active construction sites, with a combined capacity of over 1,000 MW under construction, and has more than 2,000 specialists and its own fleet of over 400 pieces of equipment. According to the nomination, the company’s workforce capacity has increased by approximately 200% compared with the previous year.
His responsibilities include resource planning and mobilisation, coordination of construction teams and management of projects combining photovoltaic installations, energy storage systems and electrical infrastructure. Operational growth has contributed to WALDEVAR’s expansion into European markets and the management of a portfolio exceeding 4 GW of completed and ongoing projects. The nomination highlights the role of operational management in a sector where meeting construction deadlines, workforce availability and coordination of subcontractors and suppliers directly affect investment performance.
Robert Schmidt, Elnos Romania: developing local expertise for high-voltage projects
Robert Schmidt, Country Manager of Elnos Romania, oversees the development of the electrical infrastructure group’s local operations. His strategy focuses on transferring Elnos’ international experience to 110-400 kV grid projects, including substations, transmission lines and solutions for integrating renewable generation and energy storage capacity. The group also has European experience in high-voltage direct current (HVDC) projects.
The nomination emphasises his focus on developing technical teams, rigorous construction planning and cooperation with universities to train specialists. In his public statements during 2026, Robert Schmidt drew attention to the shortage of skilled workers, equipment delivery lead times and difficulties arising from projects that are insufficiently prepared for construction. His management objective is to develop Elnos Romania into a regional construction and engineering hub. The nomination highlights the strategic direction and development of local capabilities, while the subsidiary’s quantified commercial and operational results require further documentation.
Ștefan Petrea, Electro-Alfa International: stock market listing and transformation into an integrated industrial group
Ștefan Petrea has been CEO of Electro-Alfa International since 2022 and has overseen a period of expansion and diversification for the Romanian manufacturer of equipment and solutions for energy infrastructure. In February 2026, Electro-Alfa International raised 579.64 million lei through its initial public offering, followed by its listing on the Bucharest Stock Exchange on March 3. In September, the company was included in the BET index.
The strategy led by Ștefan Petrea included acquisitions in railway infrastructure, metal fabrication and the nuclear sector, through the purchase of stakes in SPIACT Craiova, Electro Alfa CM and Elcomex IEA. The company also entered the energy storage sector by acquiring Solar Technologies Consulting, which owns a 51.44 MW BESS project in Șelimbăr at the ready-to-build stage. The transformation is supported by financial results: revenue of 832.2 million lei and net profit of 99.7 million lei in 2025, followed by an 18% increase in revenue in the first half of 2026. The management model aims to integrate engineering, manufacturing, construction and maintenance capabilities for complex infrastructure projects.