Romania will not achieve cheaper energy simply by building new renewable capacity. Lowering prices depends on the entire energy chain, from generation to the consumer, said Mihaela Coroiu, Executive Board Member and Chief Commercial Officer of Electroalfa, at the Energy Strategy Summit 2026, organized by Energynomics.

“Energy prices will not fall simply because we have cheaper energy production,” stated Mihaela Coroiu. Energy produced in solar and wind farms or from other low-cost sources must be transmitted to the consumer, and the final price is also influenced by demand..

In his view, large-scale electrification must go hand in hand with the development of generation capacity and the transmission of energy to the point of consumption. Romania is now building at a faster pace than during the first wave of clean energy, and the industry is better prepared than it was a decade ago, both in terms of EPCs and in terms of regulation and organization.

The next stage, however, will be more complex. “If we’re talking about a third wave, we’ll likely be referring to complex projects that encompass the entire cycle from generation to the consumer,” said the Electroalfa representative. In her view, these projects are the solutions that can effectively lead to lower energy costs.

The essential prerequisite is investment in transmission and distribution infrastructure. Without it, the large quantities of clean energy generated from low-cost sources cannot be collected and delivered where they are needed. “It’s pointless to produce energy from a low-cost source if we can’t get it to the consumer,” emphasized Mihaela Coroiu.

Electroalfa, a Romanian manufacturer of medium- and low-voltage equipment, operates in a sector that is critical to the modernization of power grids. Mihaela Coroiu pointed out that investments no longer mean just new equipment, but also the integration of digital technologies and cybersecurity solutions. “The investment model has changed slightly—it’s been improved,” she said.

The increasing complexity of projects is also putting pressure on EPCs. They must understand what equipment can be integrated and how an existing grid can be modernized. “A new, perfect, sustainable product is difficult to integrate into an outdated grid,” said Mihaela Coroiu.

This highlights the importance of local companies. Local equipment manufacturers and Romanian EPCs have in-depth knowledge of the challenges facing the national energy system, including those related to distribution and transmission grids. Even large international EPCs, which bring financial resources and experience in managing large-scale projects, work with local partners to adapt their solutions to the realities of Romania’s infrastructure.

Another necessary element is synchronizing production with consumption. This is where storage comes into play, but not just in the form most commonly discussed today. According to Mihaela Coroiu, Romania needs both medium-term and long-term storage; otherwise, the integration of clean energy will create a new challenge.

For consumers, the practical solution is optimization at the point of consumption. When the projects currently on paper or under development become a reality, and grid modernization keeps pace with the expansion of generation capacity, we can expect to see a projected decline in energy prices. At the individual or corporate level, this decrease can be achieved through generation as close to the point of consumption as possible, microgrids, and energy management systems.

“Energy prices are falling along these lines,” said Mihaela Coroiu, referring to a scenario in which consumers have local generation, modern distribution grids, and a system that allows them to monitor and control their consumption.

The central message of her remarks is that the energy transition can no longer be reduced to a race for new installed megawatts. Clean energy only becomes truly useful when it can be collected, transmitted, stored, controlled, and consumed efficiently. At this stage, grids, equipment, digitalization, and local expertise become just as important as new generation capacity.

Energy Strategy Summit 2026 was organised by Energynomics, with the support of our partners: Elektra Renewable Support, 4P Renewables, ABB, Alive Capital, Atmoce, Baringa, BCR, Big Store, Capalo AI, CBRE Romania, Distribuție Energie Electrică România, Eastship, Distributie Oltenia parte din Evryo, Eaton Electric, Electrica Furnizare, Electroalfa, Electroprecizia, EnergoBit, Enery, Enexus, Eurowind, Evryo, Exim Banca Romaneasca, Hagag Energy, KStar, LONGi, MBK Power Energy, MET Romania Energy, Monsson Trading, Nextpower, OX2, Romgaz, Schraubram, Sigenergy, Softenerg WEBUS 4 ENERGY, Solar Today, Sunotec, TBEA, Think Blu Solution, Transelectrica, Waldevar Energy, WTW Romania. Coffee Break Partner Enerta. Lanyard Partner Monsson Operation. Beverage Partners Aqua Carpatica, Alexandrion. Digital Partner Imsol. Mobility Partner BlackCab.