Wind-farm construction in the country has been dominated by deeper-pocketed utilities as many investors have been awaiting a more stable market framework before bringing projects forward.
The Commission said Romania’s support scheme was compliant with European Union state-aid rules, noting it "creates clear incentives for an increased use of renewable energy, while containing safeguards to limit distortions of competition".
Romanian energy regulator ANRE has previously said safeguards would include monitoring to ensure remuneration was not excessively generous. However, it stressed eventual support-scheme changes would not be retroactive.
Romanian green-certificate legislation foresees that through 2017 wind-energy producers will receive two green certificates for every magawatt hour of electricity produced and one certificate thereafter.
Certificates are issued for 15 years and beneficiaries have until 31 December, 2016, to enter the scheme.
A green-certificate system already existed in Romania. As they awaited clearance of new support measures, however, wind-power producers continued to receive one green certificate per megawatt hour of electricity.
Certicates trade between €27/MWh and €55/ MWh, but have traded at the ceiling price given a certificate shortage. Wind-energy producers receive revenues from certificate sales in addition to that from electricity sales.
Romania’s wind capacity currently amounts to about 535MW and should easily top 1GW by year end.
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