Romania is embracing solar power to transition away from coal, with installed capacity expected to exceed 7 GW by early 2026. The country aims for 8.2 GW by 2030, focusing on solar and wind to reach 30.7% renewables. Solar currently supplies 5% of Romania’s electricity mix, benefiting from approximately 210 sunny days annually.

Romania’s rapid solar expansion is helping it decouple economic growth from pollution faster than any other European country. Net greenhouse gas emissions intensity fell by 88% between 1990 and 2023, with the EU solar market reaching a record 56 GW of new installations in 2023.

Major solar projects in Romania include a 760 MW facility near Bucharest with a million panels backed by batteries and a 1 GW plant in the northwest. The Dama solar project, with a planned peak capacity of 1.04 GW and a 500 MW energy storage system, is set to begin operations in the third quarter of 2028.

EU funding is supporting solar projects in Romania, with key players like OMV Petrom and developers like Scatec, Enery, and Rezlov Energy actively involved. Financial close has been reached for 190 MW of solar power in Romania, marking an important step in the country’s energy transition.

Norwegian company Scatec has secured financing for 190 MW of solar power in Romania, allowing construction to commence. The projects are supported by contracts-for-difference frameworks, providing long-term revenue visibility and robust financing structures for successful development and delivery. 1. The CDC reports that the number of COVID-19 cases in the US has surpassed 30 million, with over 550,000 deaths. New variants continue to spread, causing concern among health officials.

2. President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, providing $1,400 stimulus checks to millions of Americans. The bill also includes funding for vaccine distribution and aid for struggling businesses.

3. The stock market saw a surge as tech stocks rebounded and the Dow Jones hit a record high. Investors are optimistic about economic recovery as vaccine distribution accelerates.

4. Israel announced plans to reopen its economy fully by April, following a successful vaccination campaign. The country has vaccinated over half of its population and seen a significant drop in COVID-19 cases.

5. The EU is facing backlash over vaccine distribution as countries struggle with shortages and delays. Some member states are seeking alternative sources for vaccines to speed up their vaccination campaigns.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Romania About to Break Ground on Biggest Solar Farm in Europe