Why is Romania attracting so much attention in the renewable energy sector? From subsidy-backed initiatives like Casa Verde and REPowerEU to a surge in solar and storage projects, the local market is on the move. Catalin Manea, Partner Success Manager at Sungrow, explains what makes Romania stand out and where the next wave of opportunities may lie.

 

The Romanian photovoltaic market is becoming increasingly competitive. Beyond technology, how does Sungrow differentiate itself?

While we are proud to lead in technology – particularly with our inverters and storage systems – our true differentiators lie in our customer-centric approach, local presence, and commitment to long-term partnerships. We invest in local teams, training, and service infrastructure to ensure fast response times and seamless support. Moreover, our bankability, proven performance, and over 28 years of experience give our partners confidence to scale their businesses with us.

In Romania, this shows up first as channel integrity, because we sell exclusively through a small number of authorized distributors and do not sell directly to installers or end customers. That prevents channel conflict, keeps pricing consistent, and ensures nationwide availability.

Secondly, we back our premium hardware with Romanian-language technical support, a 10-year standard warranty (extendable), and rapid replacement from local stock, typically within 2 or 3 days. This is important, because it minimizes downtime for installers and end users, a clear contrast with lower-cost brands that can leave customers waiting weeks or months for swaps.

Besides, Sungrow offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios in the market, such as energy storage systems (ESS), photovoltaic solutions (PV), and EV charging. These enables our partners to easily design hybrid solutions that are both efficient and future-ready. Combined with our AAA-rated sustainability performance, this ensures customers can meet their clean energy goals with confidence and responsibility.

Finally, Sungrow’s manufacturing scale provide supply resilience when demand spikes, something the Romanian market experienced with the programs Casa Verde and now REPower. In a crowded market, partners choose Sungrow for predictability bankable products, fast logistics, and trusted partnerships, not just specs.

 

Sungrow is globally recognized for its mission in renewable energy. How are these values translated here in Romania?

At Sungrow, our global mission is ‘Clean power for all.’ In Romania, we bring this vision to life by supporting the rapid development of solar and storage projects that are not only technically advanced but also aligned with local sustainability goals. Through partnerships with EPCs, developers, and government-backed programs, we ensure that renewable energy becomes accessible, reliable, and economically viable for Romanians – whether it’s for residential users, commercial entities, or utility-scale projects.

This translates into very concrete actions on the ground. For instance, for residential and commercial projects up to 125 kW, our focus has been programs such as Casa Verde and now REPower, which highlight the importance of pairing solar with batteries to stabilize the grid and maximize household self-consumption. For utility-scale, Sungrow inverters power some of Romania’s largest photovoltaic parks, such as the 165 MW Rătești project, with even larger ones in development.

Our expertise in Romania is backed by a strong European track record. Landmark projects such as the 150 MW/300 MWh Bramley ESS project in the UK, the ENGIE energy storage project in Belgium, and a large-scale PV plant in Finland demonstrate how Sungrow delivers reliable, bankable solutions across different markets and technologies. These projects show the same innovation and execution capacity that we bring to Romania.

We also work exclusively through a trusted distributor network, ensuring wide availability, strong logistics, and immediate technical response. Thanks to this model, clients in Romania benefit from local stock, local service in Romanian, and replacements delivered in just a few days. Of course, beyond technology, we invest heavily in training for both distributors and installers, organizing regular workshops and webinars with hundreds of participants. Most recently, we opened a new Sungrow Training Center in Europe, further strengthening our commitment to local service and technical excellence.

Thanks to our solid footprint in Europe and Romania, Sungrow has achieved remarkable growth in market penetration, becoming the go-to partner for residential and utility-scale renewable energy projects.

In other words, for us, this is the clearest proof that our global mission of ‘Clean power for all’ is not just a tagline, but a reality that we are building step by step in Romania.

 

Romania has ambitious programs such as Casa Verde and Repower. How much do these influence the opportunities and challenges for Sungrow locally?

Programs like Casa Verde and REPowerEU are accelerating the adoption of solar technologies across different sectors. For Sungrow, these initiatives open significant opportunities – especially in the residential and C&I segments. However, they also come with challenges, such as the need for rapid scaling, logistics, and education of the market. We respond to these by ensuring product availability, simplifying system integration, and offering tailored solutions that align with program requirements.

Case Verde already showed strong potential and we saw a significant growth on the business opportunities. This shows how subsidy-backed programs can shift the balance in a price-driven market.

Looking forward, REPower is even more ambitious project. Unlike Casa Verde, its predecessor, it also emphasizes storage, which perfectly matches Sungrow’s portfolio and our push to make batteries part of every system. This is critical in Romania, where a growing number of prosumers export energy into a grid that is already under pressure.

Of course, opportunities come with pressure and responsibilities. Installers face financing gaps because subsidies are often delayed, and many new players have entered the market without the necessary expertise. That creates risks in installation quality and customer experience. Our role is to provide stable supply, premium products that minimize failure risk, and local after-sales support so that both programs deliver long-term value rather than short-term numbers.

Bottom line, while Casa Verde and REPower open doors, they also raise the bar – and we think this is a good thing. For Sungrow, they are both an opportunity to grow and a responsibility to set standards for how renewable energy is deployed in Romania.

 

How does Romania’s potential in solar and energy storage compare to more mature European markets, and where do you see the greatest opportunities for development?

Romania has excellent solar irradiation, available land, and growing political will – all ingredients for a successful solar and storage market. While it may not yet match the scale of markets like Germany or Spain, its growth trajectory is very promising. The greatest opportunities lie in C&I self-consumption, grid-scale storage for flexibility, and rural electrification projects. As the regulatory framework matures, Romania could become a regional leader in decentralized energy.

Compared with mature markets like Germany, Spain, or Italy, Romania is still in the early stages, but what makes it stand out is the speed of adoption. In just the last few years, we have seen exponential growth in residential prosumers and an increasing appetite from commercial and industrial players to cut their energy bills with solar.

The next wave of opportunity lies in storage. Unlike Western Europe, where storage is already common, Romania is just starting, and this is where Sungrow’s expertise is crucial. Programs like REPower are introducing subsidies for batteries, and we expect storage to quickly become standard in both residential and Commercial and Industrial systems.

Another unique advantage Romania has is available land for utility-scale projects. While in Western Europe land scarcity is a bottleneck, Romania still offers significant potential for large-scale solar parks and hybrid solar-storage plants. Combined with EU-backed funding, this creates opportunities for rapid capacity additions.

Finally, beyond pure economics, there is a social dimension. Rural areas and disadvantaged regions stand to benefit enormously from decentralized solar and storage. By enabling energy independence in places that were previously underserved, Romania has the chance to leapfrog into a more resilient and equitable energy model.

Even though Romania is smaller today than Europe’s solar leaders, the fundamentals are strong. With the right policies and stable execution, it could become one of the most dynamic renewable markets in the region.

 

Energy storage is becoming a cornerstone of the green transition. What role does Sungrow’s PowerStack play in ensuring flexibility and security for Romania’s energy market?

Sungrow’s PowerStack is designed to be a turnkey, scalable, and safe energy storage system, ideal for Romania’s evolving grid needs. It plays a critical role in balancing intermittent renewables, reducing curtailment, and providing ancillary services like frequency regulation. With its modular architecture and integrated energy management system, PowerStack can serve everything from grid-scale projects to large commercial installations, helping Romania build a more resilient and secure energy system.

In practical terms, this means that PowerStack can address some of the most pressing issues Romania faces as it adds more renewables to the grid. Today, grid operators are challenged with volatility and congestion, meaning too much energy when the sun shines, and not enough at night. By storing excess energy and releasing it when needed, PowerStack helps smooth out these peaks and valleys.

Beyond stabilizing the grid, storage also unlocks economic opportunities. In other words, developers can capture more value from their solar assets by avoiding curtailment, and industrial users can lower energy bills by using stored energy during peak-price hours.

Another strength of PowerStack is its safety and reliability.

Of course, energy storage is not just about technology. I must mention heret flexibility and trust as well. If will deploy systems like PowerStack, Romania can  gain the ability to integrate higher shares of renewables, improve energy security, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, all while building confidence in the stability.

 

When choosing between different providers, what features do Romanian clients value most – and how does PowerStack address these needs?

Romanian clients prioritize reliability, local support, ease of integration, and bankability. PowerStack addresses all these: it’s backed by Sungrow’s global track record, comes with advanced safety features, and offers seamless integration with solar systems. Additionally, our local technical teams and training programs ensure that clients feel confident from commissioning through long-term operation.

What we see in Romania is that clients want more than just a product. They also want a solution they can trust for the long run, which is perfectly normal. Reliability is about uptime and also about knowing that the provider will be present in the market for the next 10, 15, or 20 years. With almost 30 years of experience and a strong balance sheet, Sungrow offers that long-term stability.

Another priority is ease of integration. Many clients in Romania are moving fast to take advantage of programs like Casa Verde or REPowerEU, so they need systems that can be deployed quickly and with minimal complexity. PowerStack’s modular design and integrated Energy Management System make installation straightforward.

Also, there is a growing awareness around safety and bankability. PowerStack uses proven lithium iron phosphate chemistry with multiple safety layers, which reassures developers, EPCs, and financiers alike. Bankability is key here, because projects often depend on securing loans or investor confidence, and Sungrow’s track record worldwide helps unlock that financing.

 

Beyond Romania, what opportunities do you see in the region where Sungrow’s expertise could have the greatest impact?

Central Eastern and Southeast Europe as a whole is undergoing a major energy transformation. Sungrow’s portfolio – from string and central inverters to energy storage and floating PV solutions – is ideally suited to these markets. We see strong opportunities particularly in cross-border projects, regional grid stability solutions, and hybrid PV+storage installations across the region.

Beyond Romania, we’re looking at a region that shares many of the same drivers: strong solar potential, EU-backed funding programs, and the urgent need to modernize energy infrastructure. Countries like Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, and the Western Balkans are scaling up renewable capacity very quickly, and each faces challenges with grid integration and stability.

This is where Sungrow can make a real difference. For example, our energy storage and hybrid PV+storage systems help balance fluctuating renewable generation and provide flexibility to grids that are still catching up with the pace of solar deployment. Similarly, floating PV is gaining traction in regions with limited land availability.

It is important to emphasise that is not just a technology provider from afar. We are active in almost all European countries, with our regional headquarters in Munich, more than 950 employees on the ground, and 12 offices across the continent. This local presence ensures that our partners will benefit from direct support, fast response times, and a deep understanding of each market’s specific challenges.

We also see a strong case for regional collaboration. With the EU pushing for greater energy interconnection, cross-border projects will be key to improving grid stability and energy security. Sungrow’s experience in multi-country rollouts positions us well to support this transformation, not just with technology but also with bankability, service, and proven execution capacity.

 

Looking ahead, what would be the biggest challenges – and opportunities – for Sungrow in the Romanian and European markets?

If we look specifically at Romania, the main difficulty is ensuring that regulatory frameworks keep pace with the rapid technological progress we are seeing in solar and storage. Developers and investors need predictability when it comes to permitting timelines, grid integration, and financial mechanisms. Without that clarity, projects can face unnecessary delays, even when the technology and financing are ready to move forward.

On the other hand, the opportunity is enormous. Romania has excellent solar potential and is now scaling up storage solutions that will be essential for a secure and flexible grid. Combined with European targets for decarbonization and energy independence, this creates fertile ground for innovation and growth.

For Sungrow, this means continuing to drive innovation through bankable, future-proof technologies that allow investors to deploy projects with confidence. At the same time, it means building long-term partnerships by supporting clients with a strong local presence, reliable after-sales service, and solutions tailored to the Romanian and European context.

In Europe more broadly, the acceleration toward net-zero will only increase demand for hybrid PV+storage systems, floating PV, and grid-scale flexibility solutions. Sungrow has the expertise and the track record to not only address today’s challenges but also help shape the future of Europe’s renewable energy landscape.