oleocene.org

Le groupe MET démarre la construction d’un parc solaire en Roumanie
Basé en Suisse, MET Group renforce sa présence sur le marché roumain des énergies renouvelables, en lançant la construction d’un projet solaire de 80 MWc à Răscăeți, dans le comté de Dâmbovița.

mars 10, 2025 Francois Puthod

Après avoir identifié la Roumanie comme l’un des marchés clés de son expansion au niveau européen, le groupe MET y investit massivement, via sa division Green Assets. La filiale roumaine du groupe MET dispose ainsi d’un portefeuille diversifié, qui comprend plus de 260 MWc de centrales photovoltaïques et 10 MW de capacité de stockage d’énergie par batterie colocalisée.

Trois des quatre projets d’énergie renouvelable du groupe MET en Roumanie sont déjà prêts à être construits, dont une centrale solaire au sol de 80 MWc à Răscăeți. Les quatre parcs solaires, situés dans les comtés d’Arad, de Dâmbovița et de Bihor, couvriront au total 400 hectares de surface photovoltaïque.

« Au cours des quatre dernières années, 70 % des dépenses d’investissement de la société ont été consacrées aux actifs renouvelables. Le groupe MET s’est engagé à fournir un accès à l’énergie verte par le biais d’accords d’achat d’électricité (AAE) à un large éventail de clients, leur garantissant un approvisionnement en énergie verte stable, à long terme et à des prix compétitifs », déclare Clive Turton, Executive Chairman de la division Green Assets, dans un communiqué.

Roumanie : le candidat d’extrême droite à la présidentielle Calin Georgescu inculpé pour « fausses déclarations ».

M. Georgescu a été entendu par la justice roumaine mercredi. Il est inculpé au titre de nombreuses infractions, dont « fausses déclarations » sur le financement de sa campagne et sur son patrimoine ou « incitation à des actions anticonstitutionnelles ».

La Roumanie finance une usine de panneaux solaires de 1,5 GW
Le ministère de l’Énergie de Roumanie a donné son feu vert pour la construction d’une usine de panneaux solaires de 1,5 GW dans le nord-est du pays.

janvier 9, 2025 Patrick Jowett

Le ministère de l’Énergie de Roumanie a approuvé une aide d’État de 32,92 millions d’euros pour la construction d’une usine de panneaux solaires de 1,5 GW. SC Heliomit SRL construira l’usine de fabrication à Bârlad, dans le nord-est de la Roumanie.

Le ministère a approuvé les fonds dans le cadre du Plan national de relance et de résilience (PNRR) du pays. Le contrat d’investissement, signé en novembre 2024, fait partie de trois projets de fabrication de panneaux solaires approuvés dans le cadre du PNRR.

Les trois projets devraient produire chaque année plus de 1,7 GW de cellules et panneaux solaires et ont reçu plus de 47 millions d’euros d’aide d’État. Le premier contrat, signé en octobre, porte sur une usine de fabrication et de recyclage de 140 MW d’une valeur de 3,89 millions d’euros à Sfântu Gheorghe, au centre de la Roumanie.

Les autorités roumaines ont récemment lancé un appel d’offres pour 1,5 GW d’énergies renouvelables, visant à acquérir 1 GW d’énergie éolienne et 500 MW de solaire. Les résultats de l’enchère ont été annoncés en décembre, attribuant 432 MW de solaire à un prix moyen de 0,051 €/kWh. Cette enchère fait partie d’un programme d’approvisionnement en énergies renouvelables visant à construire 5 GW de capacité éolienne et solaire.

KHNP, Candu Energy and Ansaldo Nucleare sign Cernavoda 1 refurb deal

19 December 2024

Romania's Nuclearelectrica has ceremonially signed the engineering, procurement and construction contract for the estimated EUR1.9 billion (USD1.97 billion) refurbishment of Cernavoda unit 1 with a consortium of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, AtkinsRealis's Candu Energy, Canadian Commercial Corporation and Ansaldo Nucleare.

The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract covers the development of the detailed design, procurement of equipment and materials, execution of retubing works and refurbishment works as well as construction of the necessary infrastructure. Its entry into force is subject to the approval of Nuclearelectrica's shareholders (it is 82.49% state-owned) and the approval of the Canadian government.

Candu units are pressurised heavy water reactors designed to operate for 30 years, with a further 30 years available subject to refurbishment. This includes the replacement of key reactor components such as steam generators, pressure tubes, calandria tubes and feeder tubes. It involves removing all the reactor's fuel and heavy water and isolating it from the rest of the power station before it is dismantled. Thousands of components, including those that are not accessible when the reactor is assembled, are inspected, and all 480 fuel channels and 960 feeder tubes are replaced during the high-precision rebuild.

Cernavoda is the only nuclear power plant in Romania and consists of two 650 MWe Candu reactors. Unit 1 went into commercial operation in 1996 and unit 2 in 2007. Most of the work on units 3 and 4 - like units 1 and 2, Candu-6 reactors - was done in the 1980s prior to the fall of the government of Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989. Work is now on-going to construct units 3 and 4, with scheduled commercial operation in 2030 and 2031.

The unit 1 refurbishment project began in 2017 and is currently in the second of three phases. This phase, due to last from February 2022 to 2026, covers providing the financial resources, negotiating and granting engineering, procurement and construction contracts, assessing, preparing and scheduling the activities to be carried out and obtaining all the authorisations and approvals necessary to start the project. The third phase, scheduled for 2027 to 2029, starts with the shutdown of unit 1 and includes all the work required on it and its recommissioning.

Cosmin Ghita, Nuclearelectrica CEO, said: "The goal for Cernavoda NPP unit 1 refurbishment is to ensure the operation of the unit for another life cycle in conditions of safety and economic efficiency ... carried out according to standards of excellence and the international experience gained from the refurbishment of the other Candu nuclear units worldwide. This is a key project which will extend unit 1’s operational life by 30 years to support Romania’s decarbonisation goals by avoiding an additional 5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. We are keen to work with internationally renowned partners which have historically contributed to the current operational performance of Cernavoda units 1 and 2."

........................

European Commission Approves Aid for Coal Mine Closures in Romania

by Paul Anderson|Rigzone Staff | Thursday, November 21, 2024

The European Commission has approved a Romanian aid of EUR 790 million ($832.6 million) to help cover exceptional costs arising from the closure of the four uncompetitive coal mines of Lonea, Lupeni, Livezeni and Vulcan in the Jiu Valley.

The Romanian measure, according to the European Commission, will help Romania phase out coal by 2032 in line with its binding commitment under its National Recovery and Resilience Plan and Territorial Just Transition Plan. The recipient will be Societatea Complexul Energetic Valea Jiului SA, which oversees the four mines and the Paroseni power plant.

The measure covers social costs for workers affected by mine closures and safety and remediation expenses for closing the four mines, including from securing shafts, repairing environmental damage, and land recultivation. The aid applies to eligible costs from October 1, 2023, to December 21, 2032.

An independent consultant will monitor coal extraction, making sure it is limited to volumes strictly necessary for public safety.

“The measure we have approved today will help Romania to carry out the necessary safety and rehabilitation works in order to facilitate the mine closure and ensure that no one is left behind in the green transition. It will also help alleviate the social impact of the closures”, said Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice President in charge of competition policy at the Commission.

The Commission assessed the measure and found it to be compatible with the internal market as the aid does not exceed the exceptional costs, is not related to current production, and arises from the orderly and irrevocable closure of the four mines by 2032 at the latest.

The shutdown of uncompetitive mines is also in line with the goals established by the EU in the European Green Deal, as well as other recent regulatory updates in the fields of energy and the environment, the Commission said.

Key Cernavoda 3 and 4 engineering contract signed

Friday, 15 November 2024

The engineering, procurement and construction management contract for the completion of Romania's Cernavoda units 3 and 4 has been signed with the FCSA Joint Venture including Fluor, AtkinsRéalis, Ansaldo Nucleare and Sargent & Lundy Energie.

Romania's nuclear power plant operator Nuclearelectrica said that the estimated value of the engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract, which was signed at the COP29 climate conference, was about EUR3.2 billion (USD3.4 billion).

It will be structured in two phases. The first phase is the Limited Notice to Proceed, lasting between 24 to 30 months, followed by the Final Notice to Proceed phase lasting around 80-84 months. The latter phase is subject to commercial terms being agreed and a Final Investment Decision "being taken in line with the Support Agreement between the Romanian State" and Nuclearelectrica.

What is the project?

Cernavoda is the only nuclear power plant in Romania and consists of two 650 MWe Candu-6 reactors. Unit 1 went into commercial operation in 1996 and unit 2 in 2007. Operator Nuclearelectrica plans to extend the operating life of unit 1 to 60 years. Most of the work on the unfinished units 3 and 4 was done in the 1980s prior to the fall of the government of Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989. It was reported in 2021 that unit 3 was 52% complete and unit 4 30% complete.

In July this year the European Union issued a positive opinion on the technical and nuclear safety aspects of the construction of the two units, which have a scheduled operation date of 2030 for unit 3 and 2031 for unit 4. In October 2022, Romania said Canada and the USA were both offering to help with the financing of the construction of Cernavoda 3 and 4.


Romania's Energy Minister, Sebastian Burduja, said: "It is the most important project for the Romanian energy sector in recent decades. We have the strongest international partners with us to bring it to fruition by 2031-2032. Signing today's contract required a considerable effort, on all levels: diplomatic, financial, legal. The two new reactors will mean an additional installed power of over 1400 MW at Cernavoda, an increase in annual energy production in Romania by over 11 million MWh, for at least 30 years of operation, over 19,000 well-paid jobs and avoiding a minimum of 10 million tonnes of CO2 emissions each year. Once this investment is completed, in 7-8 years, Romania will provide over 30% of the national energy needs only through nuclear energy production. Today's historic step is also a symbolic one: Romania is able to carry forward strategic projects thought up 50 years ago and blocked by decades of hesitation, carelessness or lack of decision."

.....................................

CANDU reactors

According to World Nuclear Association, the Canada-developed Candu reactors use heavy water (deuterium oxide) as a moderator and coolant, and are fuelled using natural uranium (as opposed to enriched uranium). The advantages of the Candu reactor are savings in fuel cost, because the uranium does not have to go through the enrichment process, and reduced reactor downtime from refuelling and maintenance. These savings are partially offset by the cost of producing heavy water.

The first commercial Candu reactors began operation in Canada in 1971 and there are now 27 Candu nuclear power reactors in seven countries as well as 18 'Candu derivative' reactors in India.

AtkinsRéalis said Cernavoda 3 and 4 would be first new Candu reactors built since 2007, and the company's President and CEO Ian L. Edwards, saying: "This is a game-changing contract for AtkinsRéalis and Romania. As the sole commercial licensee of world-renowned Candu technology, we are uniquely positioned to contribute to the vast expansion of the world’s clean power ... this also represents our first step in our expansion around the world as we aim to sell many more reactors."

Canada's government is providing export financing support of CAD3 billion (USD2.1 billion). The company's Candu life extension reactor support business is a CAD15 billion "total addressable market" with upcoming projects in China, Canada, Argentina, Romania, and South Korea that could include 19 Candu reactors over the next 10 years,

Romania launches 1.5 GW renewables auction
The Romanian authorities plan to allocate 1 GW of wind capacity and 500 MW of solar through the country’s first procurement exercise. The Romanian Ministry of Energy has set a maximum strike price of €91 ($100.7)/MWh for solar projects and €93/MWh for wind projects.

September 10, 2024 Emiliano Bellini

Romania's Ministry of Energy has launched the country's first renewable energy auction under a contracts for difference (CfD) scheme

The Romanian authorities plan to allocate 1 GW of wind power and 500 MW of solar capacity through the procurement exercise, which is set to conclude on March 25. Project sizes will range from 5 MW to 200 MW.

The government set a maximum strike price of €91/MWh for solar projects and €93/MWh for wind projects in the auction. The selected projects will be given 15-year CfD agreements.

The auction is part of a renewable energy procurement scheme aimed at allocating 5 GW of wind and solar capacity.

The Romanian government raised its renewables targets toward the end of 2023. Its current plan stands at 36% of the nation's energy to come from renewables by 2030, with 8.3 GW of solar and 7.6 GW of wind, while it plans to phase out coal by 2032. The country hit 2.9 GW of solar capacity at the end of 2023.

Israeli developer secures €110 million for solar plants in Romania
Nofar Energy has obtained €110 million ($122.5 million) in financing from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Raiffeisen Bank International to build two solar projects in Romania with a combined capacity of 300 MW.

August 22, 2024 Patrick Jowett

Israeli renewables company Nofar Energy has secured €110 million of financing to build and operate two solar power plants in southeastern Romania.

The funds come from the EBRD and Vienna-based Raiffeisen Bank International. EBRD is providing a loan of €55 million, matched by Raiffeisen Bank across two tranches of €25 million and €30 million.

The Iepuresti and Ghimpati solar projects will have a total capacity of around 300 MW. Together, they are expected to generate 386 GWh of renewable electricity per year. The electricity will be sold on the local market.

“The successful completion of these projects will play a crucial role in supporting Romania's ambitious goal for decarbonisation, contributing to a greener future for the region,” said Nofar Energy Romania CEO Favi Stelian.

The EBRD has invested almost €11 billion in 524 projects across Romania. A statement on its website says that the latest investment underscores growing confidence in Romania’s renewables market in the wake of key regulatory changes.

Romania’s Ministry of Energy recently approved a new contracts-for-difference mechanism. The first renewables auction under the scheme, which aims to procure 500 MW of solar, is scheduled for later this year.

The Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority recently made changes to grid-connection processes, while the country's parliament passed a bill requiring prosumers with PV systems between 10.8 kW and 400 kW to install energy storage systems.

Romania has pledged to boost its renewable energy share to 36.2% of total consumption by 2030 by adding 11.9 GW of new capacity.

RoPower and Fluor sign FEED 2 contract for SMR project

25 July 2024

Romania's Nuclearelectrica and project company RoPower Nuclear have signed the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) Phase 2 contract with Fluor Corporation for the Doicești small modular reactor project.

The signing ceremony took place during the US Department of Energy-led Partnership for Transatlantic Energy and Climate Cooperation (P-TECC) summit - the project has received substantial support from both the Romanian government and international partners, including a significant grant from the US Trade and Development Agency.

Under the FEED 2 contract, Fluor will provide RoPower Nuclear with the design and engineering services required for the implementation of the project, at the end of which there will be an updated cost estimate and schedule as well as the safety and security analyses needed for a final investment decision.

Romania's small modular reactor (SMR) project is aiming for 462 MW installed capacity, using NuScale technology with six modules at the former coal plant site at Doicești, each with an installed capacity of 77 MW. The SMR project is estimated to create nearly 200 permanent jobs, 1500 construction jobs and 2300 manufacturing and component assembly jobs, as well as facility operation and maintenance jobs over the 60-year life of the facility.

..........................