EBRD finances €34 million for major solar projects in Romania

• EBRD provides €34 million loan for two solar plants totalling 189.7 MW
• Projects to generate 286.9 GWh annually and cut 118,600 tonnes of CO₂
• Skills programme to boost green energy expertise and female participation

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which has been instrumental in supporting Romania's renewable energy ambitions, is providing a senior secured loan of up to €34 million to Solar World SRL, RB Solar Energy SRL and Energie Soleil SRL for the development, construction and operation of two solar power plants in the southern part of Romania.

The project will be co-financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) with a senior loan of up to €34 million and by Banca Comercială Română (BCR) with a senior loan of up to €17.5 million.

The three new Romanian companies are 65 per cent owned by Norway-based renewable energy developer Scatec ASA, with the remaining 35 per cent held by Turkish engineering services provider Defic Globe Energji AS. The project represents Scatec ASA’s entry into the Romanian renewables sector.

EBRD financing will be split into two tranches: up to €28 million for a 61.9 MW plant operating under full merchant exposure, and up to €6 million for a 127.8 MW plant supported by a 15-year Contract for Difference (CfD) price stabilisation scheme.

The merchant tranche will benefit from a first-loss guarantee provided by the European Union under the InvestEU programme, reducing risk and enabling greater private sector participation.

The plants will have a combined installed capacity of 189.7 MW, significantly advancing the country’s renewable energy ambitions. Once operational, they are expected to generate about 286.9 GWh of green electricity per year, avoiding around 118,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

Beyond environmental benefits, the initiative also promotes inclusion. The sponsors will launch a skills development programme in partnership with local technical institutions, focusing on green energy and digital skills. A minimum share of female participation will be ensured to encourage women to enter the traditionally male-dominated energy sector. Technical cooperation support for this programme is provided by the EU under the InvestEU Advisory Hub.

This investment underscores the EBRD’s commitment to accelerating Romania’s green transition along with green transitions across Central and Eastern Europe.

The EBRD is a leading implementing partner for the European Union’s InvestEU programme, which supports sustainable investment, innovation and job creation in the region. It aims to trigger more than €372 billion in additional investment in 2021-27. Between 2022 and 2027, InvestEU guarantees worth €777 million will be leveraged by the EBRD to finance investments of up to €3.8 billion in eligible sectors.

In Romania the Bank has played a key role in the development of the Contracts for Difference scheme, which has succeeded in attracting investments in renewable energy by providing long-term revenue stability to developers, thus strengthening the market integration for renewables. It has supported two rounds of auctions under the CfD scheme, as well as making substantial investments in the sector on its own account.