Romania Adds 2.2 GW of Solar Power in Third Straight Year

Romania's solar revolution is picking up speed, with the country installing enough solar panels in 2025 to power hundreds of thousands of homes.

The Eastern European nation added 2.2 gigawatts of solar capacity last year, a significant jump from the 1.7 gigawatts installed in 2024. This achievement pushes Romania's total solar capacity past the 7 gigawatt milestone, tripling what the country had just three years ago.

The growth came from all directions. Homeowners and businesses contributed about 1 gigawatt through rooftop installations, while large utility-scale solar farms added another 1.2 gigawatts. Government subsidies helped cover upfront costs for residential and commercial installations, making solar more accessible to regular people.

Irene Mihai, policy director at the Romanian Photovoltaic Industry Association, says the 2022 energy crisis opened many eyes. "Solar emerged as a cost-effective, competitive, and sustainable solution against price volatility," she explains. When energy prices spiked, Romanians turned to the sun for stability.

The utility-scale market nearly doubled its previous year's performance, with projects that began in 2023 and 2024 finally coming online. A government auction awarded contracts for 1,488 megawatts of solar across 26 projects, giving developers the confidence to break ground.

Looking ahead to 2026, Romania expects to add another 2.5 gigawatts of solar capacity. That ambitious target seems within reach given the current construction pipeline and favorable market conditions.

The Ripple Effect

Romania's solar surge is creating momentum that extends far beyond electricity generation. The country is working toward full membership in the Association of Issuing Bodies by 2027, which will allow Romanian renewable energy certificates to trade across Europe. This opens doors for more corporate power purchase agreements, giving international companies reasons to invest in Romanian solar projects.

With 29 power purchase agreements already signed for solar, wind, and hybrid projects, interest from regional buyers is growing. Once Romania's renewable energy certificates become tradeable outside the country, that number should multiply quickly.

The government is now focused on streamlining regulations to match the market's rapid growth. Currently, solar facilities face a gap between certification and grid connection, leaving completed projects unable to generate revenue while they wait for final approvals. Officials are working to eliminate these delays so new solar farms can start producing clean energy immediately after passing technical inspections.

Romania originally set a goal of reaching 10 gigawatts of solar by 2030, but at this pace, the country will likely blow past that target years early.