Energy storage in Romania
Energy storage in Romania
Current regulatory developments
Updated September 2026
Abolition of double network tariffs & green certificate charges (GEO 134/2024)
Grid capacity allocation auctions replacing legacy ATR model (ANRE Order 53/2024, 5% financial guarantee)
EU-approved €150M Modernization Fund scheme (2,174 MWh standalone BESS target)
Updated PNIESC (2.5–5 GW storage capacity by 2030)
Transelectrica integration into MARI and PICASSO balancing platforms
CfD scheme for renewable energy and storage (EC-authorized, July 2024)
Five things to know about BESS in Romania.
Storage is classified as standalone or co-located (hybrid), using the same authorization framework as generation. Energy storage can be (i) an auxiliary installation hybridizing a generation facility (solar PV, wind, etc.) or (ii) an independent energy installation (standalone). Storage facilities require an Establishment Authorization (Autorizație de înființare) prior to construction and a Commercial Exploitation License (Licență de exploatare comercială) from ANRE for grid energization and market participation. Standalone BESS on agricultural or non-buildable land outside city boundaries requires a Zonal Urban Plan (PUZ) and land category conversion, no simplified PV permitting exemption applies.
Revenue combines wholesale arbitrage and balancing reserve stacking, boosted by the removal of double taxation. BESS operators exploit growing intraday price spreads on OPCOM (day-ahead and intraday), capitalizing on midday solar troughs and evening price spikes. The primary value driver is Transelectrica's balancing and ancillary services market, specifically aFRR and mFRR, with FCR expanding. GEO 134/2024 eliminated double network tariffs, charges now apply strictly to self-consumption and technological losses, aligning Romania with Article 15 of EU Directive 2019/944.
Grid connectivity is the principal bottleneck, now addressed by auction-based reform. Evacuation capacity is constrained, particularly in Dobrogea and Southern Romania where RES penetration is dense. ANRE Order 53/2024 replaces the first-come-first-served ATR model with competitive capacity auctions and a mandatory 5% financial guarantee, clearing speculative pipeline projects but raising pre-construction capital needs significantly.
State aid kickstarted deployment, but merchant models are taking over. PNRR Component 6 and the €150M Modernization Fund scheme (targeting 2,174 MWh of standalone batteries) provided initial grant support, alongside an EC-authorized CfD scheme. However, institutional investors and international infrastructure funds are increasingly deploying purely merchant and tolling structures, backed by IFIs (EBRD, IFC, EIB) accepting multi-stream revenue models.
The market has moved from pilot to utility scale, with strong early-mover premiums. Benchmark assets such as Monsson's 216 MWh Mireasa facility have proven commercial operability within hybrid wind/solar complexes. With over 12 GW of storage applications in the development pipeline, early movers holding bankable grid connections enjoy substantial first-mover premiums in ancillary service pricing before market saturation occurs.
Credentials
a pan-European investment fund on the joint development of three distinct standalone BESS projects across Romania, including full regulatory, power, and real estate due diligence
a pan-European automotive manufacturer on the development and further rental of a tailored renewable energy project pipeline featuring co-located BESS capacity, encompassing long-term operational lease structures, energy regulatory compliance, auction guarantee mechanics, and grid connection agreements
“Always available, with a dedicated contact person who directs me to the appropriate expert within the firm. The team is knowledgeable and competent, delivering requests on time, or even ahead of schedule, with excellent quality.” Legal 500 Romania
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