{"id":2082,"date":"2026-04-21T07:40:06","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T07:40:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/momentumgroup.ro\/?p=2082"},"modified":"2026-04-21T07:40:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T07:40:06","slug":"energy-storage-romania-must-solve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/momentumgroup.ro\/en\/blog\/energy-storage-romania-must-solve\/","title":{"rendered":"Energy Storage: The Challenge Romania Must Overcome and the Opportunity It Should Seize"},"content":{"rendered":"

Romania\u2019s power sector is moving fast: new wind and solar are replacing fossil generation, and prosumers are changing the shape of demand and supply. But the faster variable renewables scale, the clearer one reality becomes: without energy storage, the transition will be unstable, more expensive, and harder to finance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

A new report by Energy Policy Group (EPG)<\/strong>\u2014\u201cEnergy Storage: A Challenge Romania Must Overcome\u201d<\/em> (December 2025)\u2014maps Romania\u2019s storage gap, explains why it matters for grid security, and outlines what policy and markets must change to unlock investment at scale.<\/p>\n

Why storage is now \u201ccritical infrastructure\u201d<\/h3>\n

Wind and solar are clean\u2014but intermittent. As their share rises, the grid faces:<\/p>\n

\n

    \n
  • larger and faster imbalances<\/strong> between production and consumption,<\/li>\n
  • higher risk of frequency and voltage deviations<\/strong>,<\/li>\n
  • increasing congestion<\/strong> in regions with concentrated renewables (e.g., Dobrogea),<\/li>\n
  • a shrinking pool of traditional providers of stability (synchronous thermal generators phased down).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Storage is no longer just about \u201cshifting cheap electricity to expensive hours.\u201d It is also about keeping the system operable through ancillary services<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

    \n

      \n
    • frequency regulation<\/strong> (primary, secondary, tertiary reserves),<\/li>\n
    • voltage control<\/strong> through reactive power,<\/li>\n
    • black start \/ system restoration<\/strong> after major outages,<\/li>\n
    • congestion management<\/strong> by absorbing\/injecting energy locally.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

       <\/p>\n

      In grids with high renewable penetration, storage becomes a substitute for services once delivered \u201cfor free\u201d by conventional power plants.<\/p>\n

      Three storage pathways Romania should pursue\u2014together<\/h3>\n

      EPG focuses on three routes that, combined, can give Romania both speed and resilience:<\/p>\n

      1) Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHES)<\/strong> PHES remains the most mature and cost-efficient option for large-scale, long-duration storage<\/strong> (with long lifetimes of 50\u2013100 years). But new projects face serious barriers: geography, permitting complexity, long construction timelines, and environmental impact.<\/p>\n

      2) Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), especially lithium-ion (LFP)<\/strong> BESS is scaling quickly globally because it is fast to deploy and provides excellent rapid-response services\u2014ideal for primary\/secondary reserves and short-to-medium duration use cases<\/strong>. The report notes dramatic cost declines over the last decade (with more recent cost improvements slowing as minerals become the key cost driver).<\/p>\n

      3) Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)<\/strong> V2G could turn Romania\u2019s growing EV fleet into distributed storage<\/strong>, if the country builds bidirectional charging infrastructure and an enabling legal\/market framework. Based on Romanian EV numbers cited in the report, Romania\u2019s personal EV fleet already represents a meaningful storage potential\u2014and could grow sharply by 2030 and beyond if policy supports it.<\/p>\n

      The core message: no single technology is \u201cthe answer.\u201d<\/strong> Over-reliance on batteries alone can leave the system exposed because batteries are not always cost-effective for long-duration, large-volume storage.<\/p>\n

      Where Romania stands today: a clear storage deficit<\/h3>\n

      Romania\u2019s installed storage base remains among the lowest in the EU relative to renewables penetration<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

      As of October 2025<\/strong>, the report cites:<\/p>\n

      \n