Thus, through the Casa Verde 2024 program, the highest demand is registered, increasing 2 times compared to last year, for complete systems to ensure total energy independence, with beneficiaries investing in addition to state funding up to €5,000, for 20 kWh in photovoltaic panels. At the same time, the Electric UP program, intended for SMEs, helps to move more quickly towards energy independence at the country level.

Both individuals and companies prefer in more and more cases to install complete solutions for energy independence in order at the same time or in the future to transform their homes or company premises into intelligent ones. Through the Casa Verde 2024 program, NEXO Group will install photovoltaic panels for over 500 beneficiaries, an increase compared to last year. A large number of beneficiaries opt for the installation of the complete installation kit, which also includes heat pumps, to have zero energy consumption.

"Energy independence has become more than an aspiration - it is a reality for more and more Romanians. In the last two years, at least, more and more beneficiaries of the Green House program have opted to install the necessary systems for zero energy consumption, even if it involves additional costs to the state financing, up to €5,000. In this year's Casa Verde session, the greatest interest is in complete solutions providing energy independence. Romanians no longer only want to reduce their energy bills, but also to live in completely autonomous houses, disconnected from the electricity and gas networks, enjoying full thermal comfort, without worrying about excessive consumption. In the past, most Green House beneficiaries opted only for the installation of photovoltaic panels, in the last two years the trend has changed, and the demand for heat pumps has increased approximately 4 times. The entire assembly consisting of photovoltaic systems, storage batteries, and heat pumps ensures total independence from the grid, protecting Romanians from price fluctuations and guaranteeing a continuous source of energy," explains Sorin Lăpădatu, founder of NEXO Group.

How much does an energy independent house cost?

Recently, in the context of high demand, the costs for installations for energy efficient houses have started to decrease. They vary depending on the amount of kilowatts chosen or the need for energy independence. For example, for an installation system of solar panels, heat pumps, batteries and labor, for a one-story house with an area of 100 square meters, the cost can be around €15,000 for energy independence. For a home with an area of 200 square meters, the total cost can reach €25,000 for 10 Kw which covers the requirements for energy independence and, implicitly, zero energy consumption.

Those who most often buy complete installations for energy independence are Romanians who live in metropolitan areas such as Bucharest and Ilfov, but also in large and medium-sized cities and the suburban areas of Cluj, Iași or Timișoara. There is also an emerging interest in the rural environment in counties such as Bacău, Giurgiu, Ialomița, Prahova or Argeș, where the low costs of land allow greater investments in ecological technologies.

The Electric UP program accelerates the transition to energy independence the most

Year after year, the Electric UP program, dedicated to companies, has contributed significantly to accelerating the transition to energy independence. The Electric UP 2024 program - cycle 2 runs from October 14 to December 13. SMEs and HoReCa operators can obtain financing of up to €150,000 each to install photovoltaic panels, electric car charging stations and heat pumps, which help to achieve energy independence. In this session, NEXO Group estimates an increase in the number of companies applying at a general level and a considerable increase in the number of beneficiaries in the portfolio, having so far more than 20 beneficiary companies of the Electric UP program, which install 2 MegaWatts.

With an own contribution of 25% of the value, submission projects are eligible according to certain criteria, meeting a score as high as possible. Basically, companies should install photovoltaic panels with a power between 27 kWp - 150 kWp, recharging stations for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles with a minimum power of 22 kW, energy storage systems with a storage capacity of at least 30% of the installed power of photovoltaic panels, but also alternative heating/cooling systems, such as heat pumps, which can cover up to 30% of the total value of the project.

"By increasing the budget from €100,000 to €150,000 per company, but also by including heat pumps in the financing, we expect a much larger number of registered projects and direct beneficiaries, who will choose us, especially since the interest of the companies for the elimination of energy consumption from classical sources and for green energy is a colossal one. In fact, in Romania, companies no longer see photovoltaic panels only as a singular solution for reducing energy costs, but integrate them into broader sustainability strategies. That is why from the beginning we have offered all the types of installations necessary for buildings with zero energy consumption, suitable for achieving a high score in the Electric UP program by the companies we collaborate with. More and more companies are also using heat pumps, technologies such as light and heat sensors, intelligent ventilation and air conditioning systems, as well as automatic resource management, to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Companies are investing in office buildings with zero energy consumption and smart headquarters, and this trend reflects the interest in creating a modern and comfortable working environment for employees and the high concerns for sustainability," explains Sorin Lăpădatu.

Romania is moving towards smart homes

According to NEXO Group, the Romanian market is increasingly adopting ecological solutions and technologies for green houses and will take another big step towards smart houses and company premises. More and more smart homes are appearing in future residential complexes, but there is also demand for converting old homes into smart ones. Also, more and more companies want to transform their headquarters into smart ones by integrating modern technologies.

A smart home or office building is based on technologies such as high-performance insulation systems, triple-glazed windows, solar panels, heat pumps, ventilation systems with heat recovery, ceiling cooling systems, but also the application of specialized techniques or materials to ensure waterproofing or insulation of building elements against external factors such as water, air, wind, dust or noise. All this contributes to the creation of homes that are not only environmentally friendly, but also very energy efficient.

NEXO Group plans new investments to transform the real estate market in Romania through innovation and sustainability. The company continues to develop and implement advanced solutions that respond to current and future market requirements, so that more and more homes in Romania are prepared to avoid a future with higher electricity and gas bills, thus facing the legislative pressure to use more and more green energy for a cleaner environment.