Radio România Internațional

Tag: state subsidies

  • The “Solar-Powered Green House” programme

    The “Solar-Powered Green House” programme


    The 2023 “Solar-Powered Green House Programme” has kicked off. Starting May 2, companies and contractors installing such alternative green energy systems can sign up. Procedures for natural or legal persons who want to secure the €4,000 subsidy from the state will then start. Environment Minister Tánczos Barna estimates the existing funds might be doubled, in which case nearly 150 thousand households are expected to install solar panels by the end of the year, provided there are enough specialized companies enrolled in the programme.




    “Companies that install photovoltaic panels can enroll. Starting May 16 they can submit funding applications for the first euro-region. We have divided the funding requests on separate periods, depending on euro-regions, to ease pressure on computer systems. If we manage to secure the approval of the European Commission, together with Minister for Investments and European Projects, Mr. Boloș, we may also double the budget of this program for this year and thus have 150 thousand systems installed in 2023”.




    Those who want to apply for funding in the 2023 phase of the programme need to provide evidence their household has the proper documentation with the Land Registry Office, that they have no payment obligations and that their ID address corresponds with the address mentioned in the application form. To apply for state subsidies, this year applicants can register directly, instead of resorting to specialized companies, in the computer application of the Environment Fund Administration. By installing solar panels that produce green energy, they can offset their own consumption and then deliver the surplus to the national grid. Beneficiaries can secure funding of up to 90% of the total value of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of €4,000, for the installation of a solar panels with a minimum power of 3 kW. The total budget stands at some €500 million which will be divided to 100,000 applicants. Whether they apply for state subsidies or choose to cover the entire expenses from their own pocket, Romanians are more and more interested in alternative sources of green energy and securing energy independence. After prices for electricity and natural gas went up, the demand for solar panels also reported a significant increase. (VP)

  • Effects of the energy price hikes

    Effects of the energy price hikes

    Romania is one of the hardest-hit
    countries in the context of the soaring energy prices. Starting January 1, 2022,
    the energy market was liberalized, but for the last six months the authorities’
    faulty communication has generated chaos and difficulties for household users.
    Starting this summer, electricity and natural gas prices have skyrocketed. At
    the end of the 2021, electricity prices were capped for household users, and
    part of the energy bills are now state-subsidized until March 31, 2022. Until
    then, the ruling coalition will analyze whether it needs to improve the
    legislation, Energy Minister Virgil Popescu told Radio Romania. The Social-Democrats
    have criticized the current legislation, promoted by Minister Popescu and
    adopted by the former Parliament majority. The Social-Democrats now want to
    hand out vouchers to vulnerable consumers, simplify payment procedures for
    compensations awarded to energy distributors and expand the state assistance
    scheme for economic operators. Referring to industrial consumers, Minister
    Virgil Popescu says the government has also helped them overcome various issues
    linked to the recent price hikes:


    Industrial energy
    consumers do not benefit from the current law, but we had another assistance
    package, completed last year, whereby they were awarded 140 million Euro. ALRO
    Slatina, for instance, received a payment of 390 million lei in October as
    state aid. Azomureș, in turn, received 125 million lei, and these are but two
    examples of large companies that claimed the soaring prices make their activity
    unsustainable. We understand their problems.


    Still, the ALRO Complex,
    the only producer of aluminum and alloys on the Romanian market and the largest
    in Central and Eastern Europe (with the exception of Russia), decided to stage
    a protest, after the board decided to cut back on production due to the energy
    crisis. Their trade union says over 1,000 employees risk being put on furlough,
    yet the effects may run much deeper, because ALRO works closely with other
    enterprises, impacting their activity as well. The aluminum factory in Tulcea
    also staged a protest, reducing production. People fear they will lose their jobs
    and have called on the authorities to intervene, so that industrial energy
    consumers may benefit from equitable prices. (VP)