A report published by Energynomics on the photovoltaic projects market in Romania shows that solar capacity development is significant on paper, but most projects are still in the early stages, while the transition to actual electricity production remains slow.
Energynomics analysis uses a proprietary methodology in which each project is evaluated on a scale from 1 to 10, depending on its level of maturity. Level 1 corresponds to the concept and early screening phase, while intermediate stages include obtaining grid connection permits, signing grid connection agreements, and securing construction authorizations. Stage nine represents the point at which the asset is already operational and producing electricity, while stage ten is reserved for decommissioning and recycling.
According to the report, launched on March the 4th at Energynomics Day, on the premises of the Green Energy Expo & Romenvirotec, Romania currently has only one project that has reached this final stage, a repowering project carried out last year by the company Parapet.
The report currently includes 1,124 photovoltaic projects, identified based on data published monthly by the transmission system operator Transelectrica and by distribution system operators. The Energynomics analysis focused on cleaning and standardizing the data, removing duplicates, and aggregating the information into a unified database. The projects analyzed are those with a capacity of more than 5 MW and intended to inject electricity into the grid.
In total, these projects amount to a capacity of approximately 58.5 GW. However, their distribution across development stages shows that most are still at the beginning. Around 66% of the projects are in the first two development phases, while only a small share has reached advanced delivery or construction stages.
The report also highlights the importance of large-scale projects. The database includes 59 projects with a capacity of more than 200 MW each, which together account for nearly one-third of the total analyzed capacity, or 19.2 GW. However, very few of these large projects are currently in an advanced development stage, with most of them still positioned in stage two.
Official data also indicate optimistic commissioning timelines. The analyzed documents include projects scheduled for completion in 2025, totaling around 11.2 GW, as well as another approximately 8 GW planned for the following year. However, experience from previous years shows that such timelines are frequently postponed, with deadlines often shifting further into the future.
Another important finding of the study concerns the geographic distribution of investments. Five counties account for around 40% of the total planned or already installed capacity: Arad, Timiș, Dolj, Bihor and Gorj. Each of these counties hosts at least four projects exceeding 200 MW. According to Gabriel Avăcăriței, Chief Editor of Energynomics, the factors behind this concentration may include not only solar irradiation levels but also grid infrastructure availability and the way local authorities manage investment projects.
The report also hints to the evolution of energy storage projects. As of January 2026, the total capacity of identified battery projects stood at approximately 24.46 GW, but almost all of them are still in the first two development stages. The slower maturity of storage projects compared with solar projects is considered one of the factors that may delay the installation of new photovoltaic capacity.
The authors also highlight the current limitations of the database. Around 265 projects do not have information regarding commissioning dates, while in about 58% of the cases the final investor is not yet identified – the projects are developed through special purpose vehicles (SPVs) with no clear ownership. According to Energynomics, completing this information is a priority for the next update of the report, scheduled for September, when the organization also plans to publish similar analyses covering the BESS and wind sectors. You can view the 2024 edition of the Energynomics report HERE!
The conference Energynomics Day was organized by Energynomics, on the premises of the Green Energy Expo & Romenvirotec, with the support of our partners: Elektra Renewable Support, Baringa, Big Store, Think Blu Solution.