Offshore wind energy is a crucial element of the European Union’s decarbonisation plan. With substantial untapped potential in the Black Sea, Romania has the opportunity to become a regional leader, particularly following the adoption of its Offshore Wind Law in 2024.
- Offshore wind energy has emerged as a pillar of the EU’s decarbonisation policy. The EU is aiming for 60 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030 and 300 GW by 2050. Romania, with significant untapped technical wind potential in the Black Sea estimated between 76-94 GW, could become a regional leader in offshore wind development.
- Romania’s adoption of the Offshore Wind Law in 2024 (Law No. 121/2024) is a major step forward in developing its offshore wind sector. However, there are still gaps that need addressing. A key issue is the timeline for actions outlined in the law, such as the public availability of information on the terms of reference for the Expert Study, which was supposed to be approved by September 2024. Additionally, the lack of a legally binding target is a concern, as it would help enforce timelines for secondary legislation and provide greater clarity to investors. Simplifying the permitting process is also crucial, given that developers must currently obtain approvals from multiple authorities.
- Offshore wind development in the Black Sea should prioritise environmental protection, given the basin’s unique characteristics and biodiversity risks. The enclosed nature of the sea, with limited water exchange and anoxic deep layers, makes it particularly sensitive to disturbances. Localised environmental studies are essential for understanding and mitigating the risks posed by offshore wind construction and operation. Lessons from Romania’s onshore wind projects and international offshore wind development can further guide environmentally responsible practices.
- Romania adopted its Maritime Spatial Plan in November 2023, marking a step forward in aligning maritime activities with sustainable development. However, the MSP faces challenges, including insufficient stakeholder engagement during its development, which resulted in limited input from sectors such as fisheries, tourism, and local authorities.
- Romania’s infrastructure and supply chain readiness are key to unlocking its offshore wind potential, but gaps remain. Future production from offshore wind, onshore wind, and new nuclear capacities will need accelerated grid reinforcements and new HVDC lines, to ensure the evacuation of electricity. The Port of Constanța, while partially equipped, needs an upgrade to handle the storage, assembly, and transport of offshore wind components in a scenario intended to promote rapid growth and a higher volume of installed capacities. A global shortage of installation vessels presents another bottleneck, exacerbated by Romania’s lack of domestic shipbuilding capacity following the Damen Mangalia shipyard’s insolvency. To address these challenges, Romania could adopt Sector Deals modelled on the UK and Poland examples.
This paper was written as part of the project BLUECEE – Strengthening Policy and Governance Capacity for Blue Energy in Central and Eastern Europe. The project is part of the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). The opinions put forward in this report are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).
Mihai Constantin, EPG Researcher
Mihai Constantin is a Researcher at the Energy Policy Group, where he focuses on energy policies on topics such renewable energy and decarbonisation policies. As part of the Energy Systems Department he has contributed to a series of reports and policy papers addressing topics such as offshore wind development, solar energy potential, coal phase-out etc. At the same time, he engaged in advocacy activities with different stakeholders in order to promote the collaboration between public authorities, industry, and civil society on topics such as the development of offshore wind (through the Black Sea Renewable Coalition) or designating acceleration areas for renewable energy.
Mihai has a Master Degree in European Economics at Bucharest University of Economic Studies.
He has expertise on public policies in the fields of energy, climate change and economics. He also occupies a position of Senior Energy Expert at the World Bank. Before joining EPG, he worked for WWF Romania as Climate & Energy Manager and as Advisor on Public Policies in the Romanian Parliament.
Contact: mihai.constantin@enpg.ro