Romania imported electricity for 21 of 24 hours on 3 November, as nuclear outages increased reliance on imports despite strong renewable generation. Nuclearelectrica started procedures to restart Unit 1 on 4 November, with grid resynchronisation scheduled for 6 November.
Unit 2’s return remains dependent on a sustained rise in the Danube, leaving Romania’s nuclear availability linked to hydrological conditions even after Unit 1 is back on the grid. The immediate outlook for power prices therefore depends on reactor returns and water levels.
Wind averaged about 2.7 GW in Romania on 3 November, accounting for 42.3% of electricity production, while hydropower averaged 1.375 GW. Renewables supplied around two-thirds of generation, but did not eliminate imports when nuclear output was absent and evening demand was high.
Separately, transmission system operator Transelectrica published 1,566 MW of grid connection capacity for competitive allocation. The capacity is concentrated between 2032 and 2037 and depends on additional network works. Romania’s auction of connection rights makes access to the grid a separate asset for new generation projects.
Published opening prices range from about €136,000 to €719,000 per MW, and winning bids could be higher. For renewable and storage developers, the timing and cost of a connection can weigh alongside land, resource quality, equipment costs and power purchase agreement economics in determining project viability.
Projects with secured connection rights may gain strategic value, while greenfield developments without firm network access face a higher risk premium. Over the longer term, the availability and cost of connections will determine how quickly new renewable and storage projects can improve Romania’s electricity supply balance.
