Hidroelectrica has awarded Waldevar Energy the contract for the implementation of its first floating photovoltaic project – the Nufărul Pilot Project, which will be located on the reservoir of the Ipotești Hydroelectric Power Plant, in Olt County. With an award value of 39.25 million lei (excluding VAT), the project will be delivered “turnkey” within 14 months, of which 10 months are dedicated exclusively to the execution of the works.
Hidroelectrica takes the first step in floating solar energy, relying on a replicable model at a national level
It is a defining moment in the process of diversifying Hidroelectrica’s portfolio, which thus steps into the area of new green technologies, using part of its own resources – the water surface – to generate electricity from renewable sources. The project will be carried out with the support of subcontractors and third-party supporters, including Marine Research, DHI-SW Project and Makor Energy Solutions, and will mark the beginning of the accumulation of operational know-how in the field of floating solar power plants, a field still emerging in Central and Eastern Europe.
The system will have an installed capacity of 10 MW and will produce approximately 13.4 GWh annually, consisting of 620 Wp bifacial panels, 100 kW inverters and energy optimizers, all mounted on modular HDPE structures or alternative sustainable solutions. The project involves a direct connection to the existing CEH Ipotești power station, through four transformer stations. Automation, monitoring, as well as adaptable anchoring solutions at the water level are designed for maximum efficiency and sustainability.
Waldevar, a regional leader in EPC projects for renewable energy, brings to the project the experience of a team of over 1,000 specialists and a portfolio of over 1.5 GW in Romania and Europe. The company manages the entire life cycle of projects – from feasibility studies, design and construction, to commissioning and maintenance. The division dedicated to FPV (Floating Photovoltaics) systems is a technological asset for this strategic partnership.
For Hidroelectrica, Nufărul is more than an experiment – it is the beginning of a new business segment. The integration of photovoltaic and hydro production in a single location offers a technological synergy with high potential for replication on other reservoirs in the company’s portfolio. This approach can lead to better use of existing infrastructure and the expansion of production capacities without occupying agricultural or buildable land.
“Nufărul” thus becomes a symbol of the active transition towards a green economy, supported by concrete investments in innovation and diversification. In a European context in which renewable energy is gaining an increasing share in the energy mix, Hidroelectrica consolidates its position as a leader in the energy transformation in Romania. With an installed capacity of 6.4 GW in hydroelectric power plants and 108 MW in wind power, Hidroelectrica reconfirms through this project the strategic direction of expansion in the photovoltaic, offshore wind and storage areas – all essential for energy security and the decarbonization of the Romanian economy.