Romania has implemented new grid connection rules, from June 2025, aimed at prioritizing mature renewable energy projects and reducing speculative ones. Only fully documented projects will be queued for connection studies, and developers can participate in technical discussions.
Key changes include:
- Stricter deadlines and financial guarantees — developers have two months after the solution study to provide a guarantee, or the study is voided and the guarantee enforced.
- Faster permitting — grid connection permits (ATR) must be issued within 10 days of guarantee submission.
- Tighter process for signing agreements — requests must be made 45 days before ATR expiry, with full documents 15 days before expiry; missing these leads to ATR loss.
- Limited extensions — only 12-month increments, with an extra 5% guarantee per extension.
- Operational curtailment — new connections must include automation to allow output reduction during grid congestion.
- Shared infrastructure for high-voltage projects — costs split among developers, with compensation for those funding new substations.
Overall, the reforms strengthen discipline in project development, speed up mature projects, and improve grid stability through automation and shared infrastructure.
Source: https://strategicenergy.eu