Publications

Powering Clean Mobility – Pathways for the Future of Transport in Romania

November 27, 2025

Romania has a major opportunity to strengthen its transport system and boost long term competitiveness by moving towards low emission mobility. A new analysis by the Energy Policy Group (EPG), titled Powering Clean Mobility – Pathways for the Future of Transport in Romania, outlines how the country can align with European climate goals while improving energy security and supporting economic growth. Clean mobility as a driver of competitiveness The study shows that cleaner transport is not only essential for cutting emissions. It can also lower operating costs, reduce dependence on imported fuels and encourage innovation in modern technologies. These benefits...

Market Making pe piața românească de energie electrică: Ce înseamnă, cum poate fi implementat, ce să avem în vedere

November 24, 2025

Ca parte a unui pachet de măsuri menite să reducă prețul energiei electrice, Ministerul Energiei a anunțat în luna septembrie intenția de a introduce un mecanism de formare a pieței (market making) pe piața de futures a energiei electrice din România, afectată de un deficit de lichiditate. Anunțul a venit la câteva luni după Ordinul ANRE nr. 15 din 29/4/2025 , care a stabilit un cadru general de reglementare pentru market making pe piețele centralizate de energie. În lipsa unor clarificări ulterioare cu privire la forma finală pe care o va lua acest mecanism, studiul de față servește drept introducere...

ETS2 In Romania: Turning Climate Policy into Economic Opportunity

November 10, 2025

The expansion of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) through a dedicated system for the buildings and road transport sectors (ETS2) is one of the most impactful and contentious decisions in EU climate policy in recent years. These sectors are major sources of emissions: buildings account for approximately 36% of the EU’s energy-related GHG emissions, while road transport contributes around 20%, with emissions rising in Romania over the past threedecades. The ETS2 is designed to complement existing regulatory instruments, most notably the Effort Sharing Regulation, which has so far been the main policy setting emissions targets on the transport and...

National Study on Capacity Gaps in Carbon Management: Emphasising Carbon Capture and Storage Deployment in Romania

October 30, 2025

The European Union has introduced a set of instruments that support the deployment of CCUS technologies. The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) remains a central pillar, and its upcoming inclusion of carbon removals will have direct implications for CCUS deployment. For industrial operators in hard-to-abate sectors, this shift increases the importance of permanent CO₂ storage as a cost-effective compliance strategy. In this context, CCUS becomes a necessary solution for maintaining competitiveness under stricter emissions rules. The Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA), in force since June 2024, reinforces these dynamics by setting a binding EU-wide target of 50 million tonnes of annual...

Meeting Romania’s Biomethane Moment

October 29, 2025

The new biomethane ordinance is a step forward, despite a key drawback The new draft emergency ordinance on the support of biomethane production is a real step towards the development of a biomethane market in Romania. It introduces a legal definition for biomethane producers and sets out their rights and obligations in alignment with that of natural gas producers. They are required to meet strict quality and safety standards to inject into the gas grid, secure the needed licence and ensure responsible facility operation. These conditions make it possible for Romania’s first biomethane production facility to connect to the gas...

Can Romania Revive Its Domestic Methanol Production? Key Challenges and Opportunities

October 14, 2025

Methanol (CH3OH) is a primary chemical found in many everyday products, such as plastics, paints, car parts, construction materials, as well as pharmaceuticals. It is the feedstock used by wood processing factories to produce formaldehyde, which is then used as a binding agent in resins. The large refineries also use methanol as a blending component, while other chemical manufacturers would require it to produce amines, that are subsequently used by the defence industry in ammunition production. Methanol can also serve as a clean energy carrier for powering road and maritime transportation, fuel cells, boilers and cook stoves. Methanol presents some...

Accelerating the Energy Transition in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania through Renewable Acceleration Areas

October 2, 2025

Given Europe’s mounting climate ambitions and in the wake of the energy security crisis caused by Russia’s war on Ukraine, the European Union has adopted a new wave of legislative instruments, most notably the REPowerEU Plan and the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED III). These frameworks task Member States with facilitating a swift deployment of renewable energy through spatial planning and the creation of Renewable Energy Acceleration Areas (RAAs). This policy position provides a strategic analysis of progress, barriers, and recommendations for Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania. It explains the challenges and makes recommendations for faster development of renewable energy in...

Guarantees of Origin: Market Tool or Missed Opportunity?

September 15, 2025

Guarantees of Origin can provide an additional revenue stream for RES producers Romania is in process of designing its Guarantee of Origin (GO) scheme with the intention of transparently communicating where consumer energy comes from. However, the scheme can target multiple aims at once, if designed carefully. European businesses are under pressure to deliver their products and services with a green mandate. Romania has leverage here; selling its renewable energy to companies can ensure their ESG targets are met and, in turn, shift financing for renewable energy development from the public sector onto the private sector. However, current GO schemes...

The Hidden Risks of Romania’s Supercharged CfD Cost Reduction

August 21, 2025

The second CfD auction clears at record low solar prices, but fails to meet quota for wind The second Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction has cleared at record low solar prices, but has failed to meet quota for wind. For wind power, the total tendered capacity was 2 GW, with a maximum strike price of €80/MWh. The concluded contracts, though, cover 60% of the intended capacity, with the lowest strike price going down to €65.17/MWh (a 211 MW project in the Constanța county). The full intended capacity for solar was procured with 1.49 GW of capacity awarded contracts. The lowest...

Publication

Topic

Author

Year