Utilization of biomass for heat and electricity in Romania

The renewable energy sources represent a new market in Romania, with much less market actors than in the developed countries but with promising perspectives for the future. Unfortunately there is no RES industry in Romania today but only small-scale projects or prototypes developed by few research institutes or small companies.

Starting 1979, a large scale program for various solar applications has been implemented: solar domestic hot water systems for hotels at the Black Sea, for apartment blocks, solar drying for agricultural products and solar cooling for fish preservation. However, due to poor quality, lack of maintenance and a stop of activities with the market reforming in 1990, only 10% of the installed 1 Mill. m2 of collector area is still in operation. Currently, some demonstrative capacities, under 1 kW are installed.

In Romania there is one demonstrating wind energy project in Tihuta pass, Bistrita County (250 kW) installed at 1205 meters altitude. The estimated electricity to be produced is between 550 – 600 MWH/year. Another wind plant is installed at Crangul lui Bot, 8 km away from Ploiesti, Prahova County, with an installed capacity of 660 kW. Two demonstration projects with over 100 kW each, in the Semenic Mountains and at Black Sea offshore are no longer in operation due to lack of funds.

The hydroelectric potential is estimated at 40 TWh (34 TWh large hydro and 6 TWh small hydro) and 12 TWh/a are developed. The 362 Hydroelectric power plants with an overall installed capacity of 6120 MW represent 27.9% of the overall installed capacity of the Romanian power system.

The exploration and research for geothermal resources began in Romania in the early 60's. The first geothermal wells were drilled in the Western Plain (Oradea, Felix Spa, Calacea and Timisoara areas). In 1990 there were 64 active wells. At present there are 70 active wells producing hot water in the temperature range of 60-125°C. The geothermal water resources are public property according to the Romanian Constitution.

A geothermal project aiming to substitute fossil fuels with local geothermal energy resources in the district heating systems of two towns was identified due to the co-operation of the supporting companies and governments, and locations were selected through the screening of numerous sites in the northern corner of Transylvania. The project was implemented in eight months and commissioned in the cities of Oradea and Beius in the second half of 2004.