Romania has the highest energy prices, at €69 / MWh. By comparison, energy prices in Spain and Portugal are extremely low, reaching €1 / MWh. Energy costs in Western countries have become so low because both Spain and Portugal have invested heavily in green energy production sources. But, through smart investments in green infrastructure and innovative technologies, Romania can reduce its dependence on traditional energy sources, which are much more expensive and polluting.
How green energy production can increase: two essential steps
Thus, according to the green energy specialists from the Kilowat company, the success of the transition and implementation of renewable energy on a large scale depends on the harmonization and alternation of renewable energy sources and encouraging domestic and industrial consumers to adapt to the current situation in which energy sources are diversified.
By harmonizing energy sources, renewable energy from three sources can be obtained and used alternatively: solar panels, wind systems and the hydro system. While the first two operate strictly at certain times, the third one, hydro, can be turned on and off as needed very easily.
"Romania can become a 100% green country, that is, it can produce so much renewable energy that we can easily compete with Spain and any other country in the world. As long as the three sources are not correlated, we cannot speak of efficiency, there are no pragmatic reasons to produce hydro power during the peak production period of photovoltaic parks and prosumer owned systems. Romania has a great watershed that, properly used, can support a very efficient green energy system. Before we spend huge amounts on storage, we should make use of this natural storage system that is much more efficient, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly than any battery. We need a clear vision to support the production of green energy and a coherent strategy in this regard, to benefit the Romanians and the business environment with the lowest possible energy prices", says Albert Soare, the founder of Kilowat, a specialized company in the installation of photovoltaic panels.
At the same time, the transition to green energy can be supported by adjusting consumer items - both domestic and industrial consumers must be encouraged to adapt to the new reality, Kilowat representatives emphasize. Although the transition to a liberalized energy market and the implementation of new sources of green energy production bring major changes in the market for people, apart from the fantastic increase in prices two years ago and their subsequent capping, all this almost goes unnoticed.
"The population lives in a parallel reality. While stock market prices vary from hour to hour and season to season, our bills are always the same. While we read the news that energy is sold at a negative price during the weekend at noon, we pay a fixed rate. It is normal for the state to intervene and protect us from excessive price fluctuations in the stock market, but at the same time, these measures should not prevent us from benefiting from low prices in certain periods. A price cut for periods when the stock market price is known to be consistently falling will encourage consumption. Come summer, there's no real reason why people should skimp on the heatwave and turn on the air conditioner with reluctance. The more light from the sun the more energy enters the system. We need consumption during the peak periods of photovoltaic production, but production must be corroborated with consumption", explains Albert Soare, founder of the Kilowat company.
Also, while there are concerns in the market regarding a possible energy surplus, in Romania there are still homes not connected to the electricity grid. Thus, the Kilowat representatives emphasize that it is essential that in Romania a balance be found between managing the energy surplus and ensuring universal access to electricity. By implementing smart energy policies and strategies, energy efficiency and sustainable use of resources can be supported, while ensuring that every Romanian citizen has access to adequate energy services.
As long as Romania does not accelerate the transition to green energy, in this increasingly unstable economic-political context, Romanians, both individuals and legal entities, feel the ever-increasing costs of energy and turn to photovoltaic systems, which -could reduce these costs up to 6 times.
The level of demand for the installation of photovoltaic systems will remain at least the same in 2024 compared to last year, with increased interest from Romanians with houses in the countryside, where there is a strong trend of switching to green energy.
Founded by the founders of the SanoVita company, Kilowat is one of the largest renewable energy solutions companies in Romania. With a team of specialists in consulting and installation of solar systems, the company offers complete solutions from the sale of photovoltaic systems to the installation of solar panels and post-installation consulting and maintenance of photovoltaic systems. So far, Kilowat has installed over 1,000 photovoltaic systems, for 700 beneficiaries throughout the country, of which 30% through the Casa Verde program. The company has B authorization for medium voltage and for verification and control, as well as installer authorization for the Huawei, Deye, Growatt range, etc. and collaborates with authorized suppliers of metal supports (K2 Germany, Aerocompact, Grup Simex).
