Israeli renewable developer Shikun & Binui Energy has commissioned a 104 MW solar power plant at Șimleu Silvaniei in Romania’s Sălaj county. The start of operations lifts the company’s operating renewable capacity in Romania to 175 MW. The facility is the second operational Romanian solar project for the group.
The company’s first operational plant is located in Satu Mare county and entered commercial operation earlier. Both the Șimleu Silvaniei project and the Satu Mare facility were constructed by CJR Renewables. The contracting arrangement provides continuity across engineering, procurement and construction delivery for Shikun & Binui.
Financing for the Șimleu Silvaniei photovoltaic project
The Șimleu Silvaniei development secured a €49 million loan from Raiffeisen Group in 2024. The commissioning of the plant converts the project’s construction-stage exposure into operating generation. This also enables Shikun & Binui to begin servicing debt using electricity revenues.
Pipeline scale and battery-storage capacity
Beyond its two operating plants, Shikun & Binui has a larger development platform in Romania. Its disclosed pipeline includes approximately 1.16 GW of renewable generation and 730 MWh of battery-storage capacity. The storage element points to future projects being developed as hybrid assets.
The hybrid configuration is intended to manage solar output patterns, including shifting delivery away from midday periods. It also relates to evening generation capability and managing exposure associated with solar price dynamics. The company’s pipeline structure therefore aligns with pairing storage with solar generation.
Grid constraints and delivery dependencies
Romania’s expanding solar build-out is increasing competition for grid capacity. It is also reducing the value of undifferentiated midday production in the market. Pairing part of the pipeline with batteries could allow electricity to be moved into higher-priced hours.
The same approach is described as supporting reduced imbalance exposure and enabling services to the transmission system. Shikun & Binui’s operating capacity of 175 MW corresponds to about 15 per cent of its disclosed 1.16 GW development pipeline. Delivery timing will depend on connection availability, construction sequencing, and financing terms for projects entering a more congested renewable market.
Lender reference asset and next investment direction
The completed Șimleu Silvaniei plant expands Shikun & Binui’s operating base and provides a reference asset for future lenders. The next phase of investment will depend on how new Romanian solar capacity is financed. That includes whether projects are structured as conventional generation or as integrated solar-and-storage infrastructure.
