Zoltan Nagy, ANRE: “We need to build low-emission energy plants and to have production from renewable sources”

“I am convinced that this energy crisis, which began in 2021 and aggravated by this war, will accelerate things, the changes started at the initiative of the European Commission, which I cannot say have been fully embraced at the same level by all Member States. But this crisis, this war, has created unity within the EU and we are finally able to think together, it is the first positive sign of this crisis that we are looking for acceptable solutions for all the economies of the European Union,” Zoltan Nagy, Vice-president, Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) said during Digital Transformation Conference – Energy & Utilities powered by The Diplomat-Bucharest.“

We have seen that the oil crisis of the 1970s also came with changes and novelties, just as the crisis in the financial sector put more emphasis on risk analysis and the market focused on new products. I am convinced that this crisis will also have a positive effect. For now, EU countries are focusing on short-term measures, as is Romania, which has taken action for a period of one year. But I am convinced that the medium and long term measures will come.

Increasing energy production is needed to supplement supply. This crisis is generated by the imbalance between supply and demand. From an EU perspective, the direction is clear. We need to build low-emission plants, to have production from renewable sources. we know very well what problems they come with, their production is unpredictable, but we already see solutions to this problem and storage capacities appear.

Most of the solutions we prepare also involve a high degree of digitalization in the energy sector. This digitization has been done and is still done at the level of distribution networks. Electrification is absolutely necessary from the perspective of electromobility.

ANRE will support these investments in intelligent distribution and transport networks. Investment plans with a digitization component will certainly be supported and these costs will be recognized in tariffs.”

Full recording of the event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3n2T29iadE