The European Green Deal focuses on three key principles for transitioning to clean energy: prioritizing a renewable energy-based sector, increasing energy efficiency, and reducing overall energy consumption. In this context, the “Fit for 55” legislative package, launched in July 2021, includes proposals to revise and update EU legislation and implement new initiatives to align EU policies with the climate goals set by the European Council and Parliament.
In 2024, the Integrated National Plan for Climate Change was updated, strengthening Romania’s strategy for implementing the European Green Deal. This strategic document defines national objectives and the necessary actions for transitioning to a climate-neutral economy by 2045.
Additionally, the government approved the Long-Term Strategy for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction – “Romania Neutral by 2045,” along with the National Energy Strategy, the National Hydrogen Strategy, and its corresponding Implementation Action Plan.
Currently, several funding instruments are available to support projects in this sector, including the Modernization Fund, the RePowerEU Component of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), and the Sustainable Development Program under the Cohesion Policy.
All these programmatic documents have a significant impact on the medium- and long-term heating strategy, a crucial topic for both national energy policy and the public agenda. Given the upcoming mobilization of major investments in this sector, it is essential to develop and present scenarios outlining the most efficient and sustainable heating solutions for Romania, in both urban and rural areas. These scenarios must consider the realities of the energy sector, current and projected national energy needs, and Romania’s commitments at the EU level.
Based on these scenarios, we aim to establish a transparent and predictable framework, aligned with the European context, that will support the development and implementation of projects ensuring the most effective heating solutions.
Romania’s energy security can only be strengthened through a diversified investment mix in energy infrastructure, leveraging all available energy sources based on a clear investment strategy. Additionally, investment decisions must be decentralized at the local level and tailored to the specific needs of each region.
In order to understand that there is not a generally valid solution for this problem, I will highlight below how diverse the heating solution is today in Romania and some possibilities of adaptation in the future
Cluster Typologies for Identifying Heating Solutions
Cluster 1 – Urban
1.1 – Large/Medium-Sized Cities with a Natural Gas Distribution Network and a Functional CET
(Examples: Bucharest, Iași, Timișoara, etc.)
This subcluster is divided based on the following criteria:
- (a) Old neighborhoods connected to centralized heating and supplied with natural gas
- Buildings with low energy efficiency → Solution A1: Modernization of CET and natural gas networks for CET supply.
- Buildings with adequate energy efficiency
- (b) Old neighborhoods not connected to centralized heating, using natural gas-based heating
- Buildings with low energy efficiency → Solution B1: Conversion of the gas network to Smart Gas Grid (H2-ready), allowing for a blend of H2/natural gas and green gases during the transition phase, with a subsequent switch to 100% green gases.
- Buildings with adequate energy efficiency
- (c) New neighborhoods under development/construction
- Not connected to centralized heating or natural gas, with adequate energy performance → Solution C1: Modernization of the electric distribution system.
- Not connected to centralized heating but connected to natural gas, with adequate energy performance → Solution D1: Modernization of the electric distribution system or conversion to Smart Gas Grid (H2-ready), depending on feasibility and techno-economic analysis.
1.2 – Large/Medium-Sized Cities with a Natural Gas Distribution Network but No Functional CET
(Example: Târgu Mureș)
This subcluster follows a similar structure to 1.1, with some distinctions in the recommended solutions:
- (a) Old neighborhoods connected to centralized heating and supplied with natural gas
- Buildings with low energy efficiency → Solution A2: Modernization of CET and natural gas networks for CET supply.
- (b) Old neighborhoods not connected to centralized heating, using natural gas-based heating
- Buildings with low energy efficiency → Solution B2: Conversion of the gas network to Smart Gas Grid (H2-ready) with a blend of H2/natural gas and green gases during the transition phase, later switching to 100% green gases.
- Alternative: Solution B3: Implementation of a centralized heating system at the block level.
- Buildings with adequate energy efficiency
- (c) New neighborhoods under development/construction
- Not connected to centralized heating or natural gas, with adequate energy performance → Solution C2: Modernization of the electric distribution system.
- Not connected to centralized heating but connected to natural gas, with adequate energy performance → Solution D2: Modernization of the electric distribution system or conversion to Smart Gas Grid (H2-ready).
- Alternative: Solution D3: Strengthening and modernizing the electric distribution system.
Other situations:
1.3 – Small towns without a natural gas network and without a CET
(Considering building energy efficiency, with differentiation between old and new neighborhoods.)
1.4 – Small towns with a natural gas distribution network but without a CET
(Considering building energy efficiency, with differentiation between old and new neighborhoods.)
1.5 – Small towns without a natural gas distribution network but with a natural gas transport pipeline nearby
Cluster 2 – Rural
2.1 – UAT localities connected to the national electricity system, with a natural gas distribution network
(Where most of the population uses natural gas mainly for cooking and only limited heating.)
2.2 – UAT localities connected to the national electricity system but without a natural gas distribution network
(Example: Localities where heating relies on firewood.)