Romania will need more than 5,000 MW of installed battery storage capacity, equivalent to 20,000 MWh, by 2030–2035, according to Virgiliu Ivan, Director of the National Energy Dispatcher at Transelectrica, who spoke at a conference organised by Alive Capital and dedicated to battery energy storage systems.
“The need for battery storage is significant. However, we must also consider electricity prices, which, unfortunately, remain very, very high and are having an impact on the economy,” Ivan said.
Until electricity prices fall sufficiently to allow economic activity to recover, investing in additional capacity will become increasingly difficult, he warned.
“There is a need for batteries. Based on the adequacy study conducted by Transelectrica, we will need more than 5,000 MW of installed capacity and 20,000 MWh of storage. However, as I have said repeatedly, we must reach this target by 2030–2035,” Ivan said.
Ivan also stressed that developing Romania’s energy sector requires greater investment in research, arguing that the challenges facing the power system cannot be addressed through conferences and discussions alone.
“Funding is needed for research, because the phenomena we are talking about cannot be mastered simply by attending conferences,” he said.
“You must go into the laboratory, conduct research and analyse. And here, I believe that, through primary legislation, all companies in the energy sector should somehow be required to invest in research. That is my opinion,” Ivan added.
He also called for stronger partnerships between energy companies and academic institutions, including universities and schools, to support joint research, training and professional development.
According to Ivan, building domestic research capabilities is essential if Romania is to develop the expertise needed to manage increasingly complex energy infrastructure.
Without greater investment in research, Romania risks becoming increasingly dependent on foreign technology and expertise, while lacking the specialists needed to operate and maintain advanced energy systems.
“Without research, we will simply watch others develop. We will buy technology, we will not have specialists, and we will remain dependent on other countries that invest in and develop technology,” he said.
Ivan emphasised that acquiring equipment is only one part of the challenge. Energy companies must also develop the knowledge required to operate, maintain and manage these systems throughout their lifetime.
“It is not just about developing technology, but also about operating it and keeping it running. We need to understand this technology increasingly well,” he said.
He pointed to automation and communications systems as examples of technologies that are becoming progressively more complex and difficult to manage.
For Romania, he argued, investment in research, technical education and cooperation between industry and academia will be critical to supporting the expansion of battery storage and ensuring the reliable operation of an increasingly sophisticated electricity system.