With a total allocation of 51.7 million euros from the REPowerEU component, Transelectrica is moving forward simultaneously in three directions: installing photovoltaic power plants and storage systems at electrical substations, modernizing its subsidiary SMART SA to enable faster network interventions, and operationalizing a data center developed by TELETRANS to protect the Electricity Transmission Network.
The largest of these investments, amounting to 29.557 million euros, is aimed at powering internal services at 29 electrical substations through photovoltaic power plants and storage systems. The project covers 35% of all substations managed by Transelectrica and will add 11.25 MW of installed photovoltaic capacity, along with 19.10 MWh of storage capacity at 5 MW. Beyond reducing grid consumption by 50%, the investment will ensure the continuous and autonomous operation of the substations in the event of failures or during system restoration processes.
The work is already visible on the ground. Construction is underway at 13 stations, another 16 are in the design phase, and the installation of photovoltaic panels has already been completed at six stations: Târgu Jiu Nord, Craiova Nord, Ișalnița, Turnu Severin Est, Calafat, and FAI. The systems are designed exclusively for self-consumption, without feeding into the electricity grid, in accordance with the unbundling rules set forth in Directive 2019/944.
The power supply for substation internal services – 1from transformer cooling and lighting to HVAC systems – becomes more reliable, and operational continuity gains a new level of protection.
The second investment in the package funded through the PNRR concerns the modernization of SMART SA, the subsidiary responsible for maintaining the Electric Transmission Network. With funding of 13.79 million euros, the project enabled the purchase of 355 pieces of machinery and equipment, grouped into 46 categories, ranging from aerial work platforms to tool kits for field interventions. All equipment has already been delivered and is in use in current operations, with the project now entering the data monitoring and consolidation phase. The stated goal is to reduce the average duration of network interventions by 50%, an indicator with a direct impact on the stability of the National Electricity System (SEN) and Transelectrica’s ability to respond quickly in operational situations.
The third investment, carried out through TELETRANS SA, adds a digital and security dimension to this modernization effort. With funding of 8.44 million euros, the telecommunications subsidiary completed and put into operation a modern data center at the end of March, which is currently used to strengthen the cybersecurity of the Electric Transmission Network. The project also included the modernization of the communications network through equipment and software, with the goal of increasing the technical availability of the fiber-optic infrastructure to 99.5%.