Romania has strong potential for wind power

According to a recent report by the European Wind Energy Association

Romania is set to significantly expand its wind energy capacity over the coming years, improving on its position as one of the European countries with the lowest amount of wind farm capacity installed.

Currently the country has 14 MW of wind power installed capacity, but the European Wind Energy Association, in its recently published Pure Power report, predicts this will rise to 3,500 MW, all of that onshore wind power.

The Dobrogea region which borders the Black Sea, the Moldova Hills and other hilly or mountainous plateaux have significant wind resources which could be used to power future carbon-free electricity generation.

"There is huge potential for wind power in Romania, and if existing infrastructure barriers are removed, the Romanian wind power market will grow, providing jobs and helping drive the economy, especially in poor rural areas" Cristian Tantareanu from the centre for the promotion of clean and efficient energy in Romania (ENERO), said.

At a wind energy conference organised by EWEA in Bucharest last year, Arthouros Zervos, President of EWEA, urged the Romanian government to: "promptly address issues such as administrative procedures and grid access for renewables projects".

A national law which will contain support measures for wind energy is still passing through the political process, but it should be finalised in the first half of 2010.