Romania’s Black Sea energy strategy is expanding beyond a single resource as the offshore area is expected to host Neptun Deep, a potential 11.5 GW offshore wind sector, and existing oil and gas concessions. The same region is also linked to defence operations, maritime transport, fisheries and environmental protection initiatives. The approach increases the need for coordinated marine spatial planning to manage competing activities during later project stages.
Offshore wind zones and phased capacity targets
Romania’s draft offshore wind strategy sets out six development zones covering about 4,000 square kilometres of the Black Sea. The first phase comprises three fixed-bottom offshore wind areas with a combined potential capacity of 3.1 GW. This is described as broadly aligned with a national target to reach around 3 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2035.
The first-phase sites are in water depths of 55 to 75 metres. Average wind speeds at 150 metres are estimated at 7.7-7.9 metres per second. A second phase with around 2.4 GW of potential capacity is reported as delayed due to military restrictions.
A longer-term stage after 2035 could unlock approximately 6 GW, using fixed-bottom, deep-water or floating offshore wind technologies. The draft also points to constraints that can affect how much theoretical potential becomes commercially viable projects.
Overlapping licences and marine constraints for wind development
Several proposed wind zones overlap with hydrocarbon concessions, including the Istria, Midia, Luceafarul and Neptun blocks. The largest offshore wind area intersects with five exploration licences. Developers are expected to account for migratory bird routes and marine ecosystems, as well as fishing areas.
Additional constraints listed in the draft include shipping corridors, underwater cultural heritage sites and defence requirements. These factors are presented as determinants of the portion of Romania’s offshore wind potential that can be converted into projects.
Neptun Deep milestone and investment figures
Alongside offshore wind planning, Romania is advancing the Neptun Deep offshore gas development as an energy security investment. OMV Petrom and Romgaz have installed the Neptun Alpha production platform, described as a major milestone for the project .
OMV Petrom reported a 14% decline in first-half net profit to approximately EUR 355 million while continuing significant capital investment. Total capital expenditure reached around EUR 375 million over the same period . Once operational, Neptun Deep is expected to become a major domestic gas source.
The project is also expected to help compensate for declining conventional production and improve supply security for Romania and regional markets. Offshore gas and offshore wind are described as serving different roles in the energy transition but sharing industrial requirements.
Shared infrastructure needs between gas and wind
Both sectors are expected to compete for industrial resources and infrastructure used in offshore development. Ports, manufacturing facilities, specialised vessels, offshore engineering capabilities and skilled workers are forecast to face increasing demand from both industries.
Offshore wind projects require dedicated electricity export routes and grid infrastructure. Gas pipelines and safety zones may influence available space for future developments, affecting how maritime areas can be used over time.
The draft highlights that strategic project sequencing and infrastructure coordination will be as important as allocating offshore development areas themselves. It also links Romania’s energy security to broader Black Sea regional dynamics affecting fuel supply chains.
Black Sea supply chain exposure via CPC route
More than half of the crude oil processed by Romanian refineries is supplied from Kazakhstan through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) route via Novorossiysk. Domestic production covers less than 30% of refinery demand.
The strategy notes that disruptions affecting tanker activity in the Black Sea forced temporary reductions in Kazakh production until exports resumed . This is cited as an example of how regional security risks can influence Romania’s current fuel supply chains and future offshore energy investments.
Regulatory framework requirements for offshore wind financing
The investment potential of Romania’s offshore wind sector depends on more than favourable wind conditions. Developers are expected to require a stable regulatory framework and supporting infrastructure, including transparent concession procedures.
The draft lists reliable seabed data, defined grid connection points and sufficient port capacity among prerequisites. It also includes environmental assessments, defence coordination and a support mechanism intended to reduce risks for early projects .
The document states that while Neptun Deep could strengthen gas security in the medium term, offshore wind is positioned as a long-term low-carbon resource contributing to decarbonisation and regional electricity security.
Integrated planning versus competition for space
If developed through an integrated planning approach, offshore gas and offshore wind are described as able to support different stages of Romania’s energy transition. Without coordinated development, both sectors risk competing for the same maritime areas, industrial capacity, infrastructure and investment resources.
The success of Romania’s Black Sea energy strategy is therefore tied not only to project scale but also to managing a complex offshore ecosystem where multiple strategic interests must coexist.
