AREE: Romania's potential for installed wind power is standing at 545MW in 2010

'The 2009 installed wind power capacity stood at 14.1 Megawatts nationwide. AREE estimates indicate that the 2010 wind power potentials may reach 545 MW and the same potential may surge to 2,000 MW in 2012,' said Duica.

The main barriers slowing down the development of the wind power energy sector in Romania, Duica said, are the legislative framework, the limits set up by Transelectrica for connection to the grid, the lack of cadstres for land acquisition, and red tape.

Under the implementation norms drawn up by the Romanian Ministry of Economy for Law 220/2008 establishing a system to promote electricity generation from renewable sources, mention is made of the possibility for investment projects in this area to qualify for financing from structural funds. The same extends to the generation of alternative energy.

Government Decision 1535/2003 promotes a strategy for the capitalisation on renewable energy sources that provides for a legal framework for the advocacy of such kind of energy.

Estimates of the Economy Ministry show that Romania's consumption of electricity generated from renewable sources will make up 33 percent of the country's gross electricity consumption in 2010, which is nearly 11 percent of the total energy consumption.

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