Romania is taking a firm step towards energy reindustrialization with the construction of a 1.5 GW solar panel factory in Bârlad, led by Heliomit. Tudor Mihaila, founder and CEO of the company, states that the project aims to assemble solar panels to contribute to the European renewable ecosystem and will be operational by June 2026.
“This project represents a turning point, meaning that we are going to reindustrialize Europe in the renewable technology sector. We want Romania to stop being an importer and become a quality supplier for Europe,” Mihaila says in an interview with Energía Estratégica España.
This project, backed by €32.92 million in state aid under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), is a key pillar in the country’s strategy to reach 5 GW of renewable capacity in the coming years. «Revitalizing the Romanian industry is essential not only to reduce dependence on imported equipment but also to strengthen energy security in Europe,» adds the Heliomit executive.
Sebastian Burduja, the Romanian Minister of Energy, noted: “The revitalization of the Romanian industry has begun, and the ambition is not only to stop importing all these products from other regions, but to make Romania a quality supplier for the entire European market. The support of nearly €33 million will mean jobs, competitive wages in a less developed region of the country, and Romania’s opportunity to fully benefit from the energy transition to a future with safer, more accessible, and greener energy.”

Sebastian Burduja, Minister of Energy of Romania, at the signing of project contracts under the PNRR, including the new solar panel factory.
Challenges on the Road to Reindustrialization
The project faces significant challenges, such as competition from the Chinese market, which dominates 95% of the global solar supply chain.
«Prices are very low, and we are countercyclical with our investment, due to current market prices and demand uncertainty,» explains Mihaila.
Despite this, a recovery is expected by 2027, driven by the entry into force of the Forced Labor Law in Europe, which will prohibit products made under questionable labor conditions or increase their tariffs.
Additionally, the tight timeline imposed by European financing and fluctuations in material costs, such as polysilicon, present further challenges.
“We see that Europe is almost empty in terms of solar panel manufacturing. In Romania, there are three facilities: one by a Chinese company in the south of the country, another 240 MW in central Romania, and two others that have ceased operations due to intense competition from the Chinese market, as well as outdated manufacturing technologies,” says the executive.
He adds that subsidies like the Green Deal work but mostly fund Chinese companies and equipment, creating an «extremely high» dependency.
Renewable Landscape in Romania
Romania is experiencing strong growth in renewable energy. The Romanian Photovoltaic Industry Association projects that by 2026, 3 GW of capacity will be added, of which 2 GW will be photovoltaic. Additionally, the country is developing one of Europe’s largest solar parks, with a capacity of 1 GW, in the western part of the country.
“We have great solar and wind potential, in addition to access to the Black Sea, ideal for offshore wind energy. We are also seeing progress in green hydrogen and renewable fuels,” Mihaila states.
Meanwhile, the government has adapted its legislation to promote storage and distribution projects, a key step to maximize the impact of installed renewable capacity.
“Romania has a very favorable tax regime compared to other EU countries, and that will be very important, although taxes will rise next year. But what we need is a lot of state aid because right now everyone wants a free and open market, but we can’t if one player is taking advantage unfairly. So, if we want to play a fair game in the world, we need the same kind of support,” says the Heliomit representative.
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