ROMANIA: Where is the “green revolution”? The only wind farm put into operation this year in Romania belongs to an energy consumer, the cement producer Romcim
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The only wind farm put into operation this year in Romania actually belongs to an energy consumer, Romcim’s cement factory in Medgidia, and will produce energy only for its own consumption.
The cement factory in Medgidia of the Romcim company, part of the CRH multinational group, will receive, starting this autumn, wind energy produced by the five Nordex turbines of 6 MW each, the official inauguration of the wind park to take place on November 1. The last of the five turbines is now being installed.
From the data we have from people in the market, this is the only wind farm that will be completed this year and will produce electricity. The novelty of the situation is also given by the fact that this unique investment completed in the wind energy sector in Romania this year is made by an electricity consumer, not by an investor to produce energy and sell it in the market or directly to a customer.
According to preliminary data, up to 40% of electricity consumption is expected to be covered by this 30 MW wind farm located near the cement factory. The wind farm is not yet connected to the electricity transmission network, its production being used exclusively locally.
The people in the market told us that those from Romcim would have liked to connect to be able to use the energy produced here and in other plants of the CRH group in Romania, not to sell the energy in the market, but they have not yet received approval from at Transelectrica – as is known, the Dobrogea area already has problems with the evacuation of the produced energy. If in the end they manage to connect to the grid, those from Romcim are studying the possibility of placing more turbines at Medgidia, precisely to be able to ensure a part of the consumption of the other units in Romania. The idea of building one’s own electricity generation unit appeared precisely as a result of the high prices of electricity in the market, the industry being a fairly large consumer of electricity.
The Medgidia project was also financed from the PNRR, being one of the five wind projects that received money, but the only one that is on track to be completed. The financing was 30 million lei. It is also a first for the global manufacturer of construction materials: as far as we know, it is the first wind farm to supply the consumption of a factory in the CRH group globally.
The Romcim officials were actually approved for this project, at the third edition of the Romanian Green PPA event. The prize was offered by Liviu Vintilă, vice-president of the Romanian Wind Energy Association (RWEA).
“They found an alternative solution to a PPA, it is a bit atypical, but it shows that it is possible. It is an example that shows that it is possible otherwise, it is the first large-scale wind project for self-consumption. It is an example that some of the big consumers can follow. They are lucky to have the wind close by, but it is an example of challenge and success”, said Liviu Gavrila when he handed the award to the Romcim representative.
