​The Ministry of Energy announced on Friday that we are “one step closer to offshore wind energy in Romania”. More precisely, he says that he submitted a draft law on the use of wind energy in the Black Sea for interdepartmental approval. However, this is a very small step, considering that it should have already been approved by the Government to then pass through two chambers of the Parliament and finally reach the public.

Seven days ago, Minister Sebastián Burduia said regarding the offshore wind farm project that “we are now also finalizing the legislation in Romania.” “I think that next week we will submit it to the Government for approval, and then the project will go to the Parliament,” the minister said, according to the press release. A week later, he reports that the project has been sent for interdepartmental approval, where it may remain for weeks.

In the period from July 17 to September 1, 2023, the draft law was submitted for public discussion, and on August 28, 2023, a public discussion was organized.

State aid for capacity up to 3000 MW

According to a World Bank report, Romania’s offshore wind potential is 76 GW (76,000 MW), but the law provides for state aid for a total capacity of up to 3 GW (3,000 MW). State aid is provided in the form of a support scheme for the construction and operation of offshore wind farms to concessionaires of offshore wind perimeters, provided that they are brought into operation within a maximum period of 8 years from the date of the contract. concession agreement.

In the current version of the draft law, no later than the end of June 2025, the Government will approve offshore wind power plants in the Black Sea, which can be transferred to a concession, taking into account the restrictions imposed by environmental protection. , based on a study that will be launched by the Ministry of Energy.

Concession agreements with interested investors will be completed at the end of 2025. The concession of offshore wind perimeters will be carried out by the Ministry of Energy according to the competitive procedure, in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Code.

How concession contracts are concluded

Within three months of the entry into force of the law, the Ministry of Energy will initiate a study to establish offshore wind perimeters that can be auctioned as concessions for the exploration, construction and operation of offshore wind farms.

Until March 31, 2025, the order of the Minister of Energy approves a spatial plan for offshore wind energy, which contains basic technical information, zones established as prohibited areas, as well as information on the impact on biodiversity and the environment.

The list of perimeters that can be transferred to the concession, determined by topographic coordinates, as well as the calendar of the stages of the concession, was approved by the decision of the Government, taking into account the results of the study until June 30, 2025.

The decision of the Government on the submission of the Ministry of Energy approved the procedure for the concession, the amounts of royalties and taxes, as well as the state aid scheme until June 30, 2025.

The concession contract is concluded for a period of no more than 30 years with the possibility of a one-time extension for no more than 10 years.

During the concession period, the concessionaires have the right to explore the offshore wind perimeter for a maximum period of 2 years with the right to extend for a maximum of 6 months.

What taxes will the owners of concession contracts pay

Concession contract holders will pay an annual fee for the concession area, which will vary between exploration and construction periods. The royalty is established when concluding a concession contract for the research, construction and operation of an offshore wind power plant at a percentage set by the Government’s decision until June 30, 2025.

Royalties received from the concession are income as follows:

• a) 10% to the local budget of the county, on the territory of which the exploitation activity is carried out or the structure affected by exploitation;
• b) 10% to the local budget of the commune, city or municipality, on the territory of which the exploitation activity is carried out or the structure affected by exploitation;
• c) 80% to the state budget.

Also, the owners of concession contracts will pay the tax for the use of wind resources to the state budget, approved by the Government’s resolution, until June 30, 2025.

The fee for operational activity is established for the area of ​​the built perimeter of the concession and for the area occupied by the underwater electric cables connected to the connection points.

photo; Photo: Chuyu | Dreamstime.com