RED III converts EU ambition into enforceable procedures like faster approvals, designated and “go-to” areas. Romania now faces an execution challenge.
Ground truth for renewables
The Renewable Energy Directive’s 2023 revision reframes the transition as a delivery task. It links demand (sectoral expectations and RFNBO – Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin – uptake paths) with procedural requirements that reduce timing and revenue uncertainty, with the following systems in place:
- mapped priority zones;
- maximum approval timelines;
- digital one-stop procedures;
- traceable certification;
For developers and investors, these measures are critical because clear spatial data, auditable certification, and predictable decision timelines lower financing costs. Without these, partial or opaque implementation shifts risks back to lenders and developers, slowing real-world deployment and reducing investor confidence.
At the EU level, RED III specifies which sectors must use certified renewable inputs, such as wind, solar, or renewable fuels, ensuring industries transition to sustainable, traceable energy sources. At the national level, it outlines how these changes should be implemented with clear procedures for deployment. The directive combines market signals with operational rules to ensure renewable energy supply meets demand across sectors.
The financial implication is simple: predictability attracts capital.
Published datasets, consistent approval procedures, and reliable certification reduce uncertainty and financial spreads. Weak or delayed transposition erodes such predictability and raises the likelihood of stalled projects.
Romania now – signals and the outstanding gaps
Regulatory and market activity across 2024 and into 2025 moved Romania from planning to procurement. Licensing frameworks were modernised earlier this year; successive CfD (Contract for Difference) rounds allocated material wind and solar capacity; and a recent solar auction awarded capacity at competitive strike prices – a sign that developers are willing to bid when contracts are financially predictable.
For example, in the August 2025 solar auction, Romania awarded over 1 MW of solar capacity at a competitive average price of 40,46 €/MWh.
At the same time, the Romanian government secured EU-cleared support to kickstart initial renewable hydrogen capacity, including the launch of pilot projects aiming for up to 100 MW of electrolysis capacity.
Progress is evident, yet critical implementation elements remain under refinement. In particular, the full publication of designated zones, accompanied by supporting geospatial data layers, and the operational details of the RFNBO/GoO (Guarantees of Origin) registry remain in development.
These gaps create uncertainties that affect access to financing and increase capital costs across diverse asset types, including utility-scale solar and wind, hybrid generation and storage, BESS systems, electrolyzers, bioenergy, and community projects.
Permitting and spatial planning
Designated priority zones should be data-led: maps need the underlying datasets (grid constraints, exclusion zones, and environmental buffers) and a clear rulebook explaining how areas were selected. When the technical basis is public, objections tend to focus on facts rather than process; opaque mapping shifts disputes into litigation and delay.
Municipal alignment and the capacity of one-stop shops are operational keys. Centralizing approvals is only effective when offices are adequately staffed, digitally enabled, and held to measurable service levels. For developers, engaging early and ensuring that their projects align with local regulations will ensure faster approval processes.
Otherwise, “fast lane” language becomes a bureaucratic slogan replaced by appeals and calendar risk.
Auctions and execution
The award of an auction proves a price, not a project. A CfD gives revenue certainty; it does not deliver land title, environmental consent, or a grid bay. In practice, many awarded projects stall because approvals or grid works lag the financing closing and the execution timetable; the outcome is awarded capacity on paper and no new megawatts online.
To prevent that, two parallel disciplines are necessary.
For authorities: align auction tranches with the real throughput of permits and grid upgrades; publish a delivery schedule that links awarded volumes to concrete connection milestones.
For developers: only bid when environmental studies, land agreements, and grid dialogues are near complete.
Put differently, auctions should be capacity-focused, approvals should be process-driven, and both sides should expect staged handover rather than single-shot awards.
Hydrogen and RFNBOs
RFNBO certification makes green hydrogen a tradeable, auditable product. Romania’s early support and location advantages create the option to build domestic electrolysis clusters – pairing renewable generation, long-term offtake, and shared connections – or to import certified molecules and forgo upstream economic activity.
Financing for electrolysers requires three things: a transparent, auditable registry; predictable access to low-carbon power via PPAs; and grid arrangements that enable cluster economics.
Policies that combine targeted grants with registry readiness and connection prioritisation favour domestic industrialisation; absent them, demand will likely be met through external suppliers.
Sprint priorities
When administrative systems align with contractual goals, projects are financed, built, and connected. When they don’t, awarded contracts remain unfulfilled, and capital seeks clearer markets. The implementation window is short and measurable.
Priority actions for the coming quarters are straightforward and sequential:
- Publish mapped datasets that support the priority zones and related geospatial data layers.
- Operationalize the digital one-stop intake system, with clearly defined service levels (SLA).
- Align procurement processes with the available permitted capacity and grid-readiness.
Finalize and operationalize the RFNBO registry.
A lever for growth
Done well, RED III becomes a lever for industrial growth.
Romania has the opportunity to leverage this framework to accelerate the transition to clean energy, boost economic growth, and strengthen its energy security. But only if the administrative systems, digital tools, and regulatory frameworks are put in place and executed in full alignment.