After the booming interest in the development of wind farms, anew trend may be emerging domestically in the field of renewableenergy generation. Thus, solar energy projects may be the next toconcentrate investments on long term, believes Carmen Neagu, regionexecutive with GE Energy for Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova.
Neagu coordinates a field that brought $1bn projects in 2008,with the energy unit as the star segment of US General Electric atthis moment, at least in this region.
The year 2009 was, however, weaker than 2008, with financinghurdles and falling energy consumption among the main factorsbeyond the decline in orders.
The most important contract the company managed to gain in 2009was the one for the delivery of 101 wind turbines for the secondphase of CEZ project, in Cogealac. The experience gained from sucha contract is likely to turn into a significant benefit for GE inthe long run as regards future tenders.
Neagu believes that after CEZ project, wind farms will besmaller in size, with projects of around 1,500 MW now in the finalstage of authorisation and therefore likely to start beingdeveloped this year.
Amid the smaller size of wind farms, the renewable energy markethas started witnessing a new trend: solar energy projects. "We'realso interested in solar energy projects, but for the time beingthere is no plan to boost investments in this field domestically. Ibelieve, though, that solar energy will be the new area of interestfor research and will probably have the same development trend aswind energy (...)," she said.
Another trend that has already shaped up on the energy market isthe emergence of equipment making electricity generation moreefficient. According to Neagu, cogeneration is an area boasting ahuge development potential in Romania.
Neagu is upbeat as regards year 2010 for the region she runs.For Romania in particular prognoses are better especially takinginto account the high investment need for the energy system.
GE Energy
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