REPowerEU: Transelectrica will invest 56 million euros in photovoltaic power plants and storage facilities, the modernization of SMART branch

Transelectrica has obtained 56.2 million euros through the REPowerEU component of PNRR in order to finance three essential investment projects for the efficiency and modernization of the electric transmission network. The objective of the REPowerEU is to increase flexibility and address bottlenecks in the electricity grid to accelerate the integration of additional renewable energy capacity and increase grid resilience, while strengthening cyber security through better capacity response to cyber-attacks.

The total approved investment has a value of 56,237,200 euros and consists of three sub-investments:

“Installation of photovoltaic power plants (CEF) and electricity storage facilities intended to supply internal services installed in CNTEE Transelectrica SA stations”, with an allocation of 29,557,000 euros. This sub-investment consists in the installation of 29 electrical transformation stations of the total of 81 stations in the electrical transmission network of some installations for the production of electrical energy through photovoltaic plants. The investment is an off-grid one in which the photovoltaic power plants and storage batteries will be used only to supply electricity to a part of the internal services of the stations.

By implementing these collocated off-grid solar panel systems with electricity storage, the aim is to achieve a reduction of at least 50% of Transelectrica’s own electricity consumption in 29 stations, compared to the year 2022. It will also result in a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 2610.93 tons CO2/year. The deadline for completion is June 30, 2026.

“SMART SA retrofitting- branch of CNTEE Transelectrica SA”, with an allocation of 18,240,000 euros. This sub-investment aims at equipping SMART SA with state-of-the-art equipment and machines with clean technology, to ensure maintenance services at the highest standards, suitable for a transport and system operator, as well as the digitization of maintenance services offered to the national energy infrastructure, through the implementation and development of software solutions.

This sub-investment will have positive effects on the quality of the maintenance services provided by SMART SA for the national electricity transmission network, by reducing by 50% the average number of intervention hours and the number of interventions. Thus, the modernization of SMART SA will strengthen the safety and stability of the National Electroenergetic System and the Electric Transmission Network, which contributes to ensuring energy security by Transelectrica, as the national transmission and system operator. The implementation of this sub-investment shall be completed by 31 December 2024.

“Optimization of the communications network and creation of a data center – Teletrans SA, subsidiary of CNTEE Transelectrica SA”, with an allocation of 8,440,000 euros. The sub-investment aims to increase the cyber resilience of the electric power transmission network and the National Electro energetic System, by modernizing the communications network (equipment and software) and creating a data center. The equipment to be purchased under the project will increase the level of technical availability of the optical fiber infrastructure up to 99.5%, directly contributing to ensuring the stability and operational safety of the SEN.

The implementation of this sub-investment will be completed by March 31, 2026.