Romania’s Decision Makers | Editorial Series by The Diplomat-Bucharest
Romania is steadily strengthening its position as a regional hub for stability, investment, and energy transition in Central and Eastern Europe. As the country deepens its integration within the European and transatlantic structures and advances toward OECD accession, the foundations of its economic competitiveness are also evolving—from cost-driven advantages to a model built on high standards, reliability, and long-term value creation.
In this context, the renewable energy sector has become one of the key pillars of Romania’s economic and strategic development. In this interview with The Diplomat-Bucharest, Adrian Dobre, Country Manager of Eurowind Energy Romania, discusses the progress made in building a more predictable and attractive investment environment, the role of recent policy measures in accelerating renewable projects, and Eurowind Energy’s long-term commitment to the Romanian market, where the group plans to invest around EUR 1 billion over the next three years.
From your perspective, how attractive is Romania today compared to other CEE markets when you allocate capital and investments?
Romania remains one of the key markets in CEE, especially for renewables. At the same time, recent challenges around energization mean that investments will become more selective.
In my view, Final Investment Decisions will increasingly go to projects where grid access and execution timelines are sufficiently predictable.
How do you evaluate Romania in terms of cost competitiveness versus productivity and value creation?
Romania is increasingly seen as a regional anchor of geopolitical stability and economic growth. Competitiveness here can no longer be defined only by low costs or by business models focused on short-term returns and high IRRs.
As a reliable EU and NATO member, and with the prospect of OECD accession in 2026, Romania is moving toward a different kind of competitiveness—one based on quality of execution, high operational standards, and long-term value chain creation.
What are the top three factors that most influence your investment decisions in Romania: regulation, infrastructure, talent, taxation, or market size?
The top three factors are clear:
- grid infrastructure and predictable connection timelines and procedures
- regulatory predictability and stability
- market bankability, including long-term offtake and and mechanisms that support system balancing
In the end, these are the factors that determine whether a project can reach Final Investment Decision
How could public authorities better support large investors and strategic industries?
It is fair to acknowledge the important role Romanian authorities have played in bringing the renewables market to its current stage of development. We should recognize the effective measures taken in recent years to encourage investment in the sector.
This includes the close alignment of Romanian legislation with EU green directives, the approval of the National Energy Strategy, the removal of the Master Plan for Renewables, the CfD scheme that brought around 5,000 MW of projects closer to implementation, and the significant EU funding available through the PNRR and the Modernisation Fund to support investments in renewables and BESS.
At this more advanced stage of market development, the priority should now be clarity and efficiency in the processes that turn investment into productivity and value creation. Predictable permitting, transparent grid planning, and consistent application of rules matter more than additional incentives.
We also believe that incentives—including EU funds and support schemes—should increasingly be directed toward improving infrastructure, for example by easing grid constraints, and toward strengthening the capacity of public institutions to deliver predictable permitting procedures, rather than toward direct CAPEX or OPEX support.
What should Romania change in education or workforce policies to better match business realities?
We are already seeing a shortage of applied technical skills in the Romanian market, especially in grid works, operations, automation, digital systems, and asset management.
That is why stronger industry–academia cooperation and dual education are no longer optional—they are becoming an urgent need.
How confident are you about Romania’s economic outlook for 2026–2030?
I am cautiously optimistic. The key ingredients are there, and investment appetite remains strong. But outcomes will depend heavily on the ability of public institutions to deliver infrastructure, improve execution capacity, and maintain policy consistency.
Where do you see the biggest growth opportunities during this period?
The next stage of growth is not only about building new grid infrastructure, but also about making better use of the existing one. That is where BESS has a key role to play.
Growth will come from renewables that are better integrated into the system, together with storage and grid flexibility investments. This broader integration will also go hand in hand with growing corporate demand for long-term green power and stronger value chain creation.
What investment priorities will define your company’s roadmap in Romania over the next 3–5 years?
Our focus is on disciplined, high-quality investments: projects with solid grid solutions, manageable regulatory risk, and strong long-term operational value. For us, the priorities are clear: high-quality execution, system integration, and operational excellence.
Romania is one of the four core markets of the Eurowind Energy Group, with around one third of the group’s investments over the next three years—EUR 1 billion in total—directed to the Romanian market. That is both a recognition of Romania’s resource potential and a sign of trust in the authorities’ ability to ensure a solid long-term market.
This year, we will add 48 MW of wind capacity in Pecineaga and 120 MWh of BESS at the Teiuș photovoltaic park to our existing operational portfolio of 76 MW. At the same time, we are preparing to start construction on around 400 MW of new capacity together with associated BESS.
Our estimate is that by 2030 we will operate around ~1 GW in wind, solar, and storage in Romania.
What should Romania’s economic strategy prioritize to stay competitive in the next decade?
Romania should focus first on infrastructure and productivity. In the energy sector, that means grid reinforcement, flexibility, and market rules that support long-term investment.
It is also important to pay greater attention to the last mile of project delivery. A project can be fully completed, yet still face delays in being inaugurated because of bureaucracy or regulatory procedures. This final stage matters just as much, because it is where investment is ultimately turned into real economic value and operational capacity.
Which three reforms would have the greatest positive impact on business confidence?
- Credible, forward-looking infrastructure planning, with grid reinforcement and flexibility as key priorities.
- Predictable and feasible regulations.
- Digitalization of the Public sector.
What industries could realistically become Romania’s strategic champions by 2030?
Romania has the potential to build leadership in energy and energy infrastructure, industrial digitalization, and advanced manufacturing supported by competitive green power.
If you were advising policymakers tomorrow, what one message would you deliver?
Make Romania easy to invest in—through clear rules, reliable infrastructure, and consistent execution. Long-term capital is already here, and more will follow.