Romanians pay shockingly high prices for electricity, more than most other European countries figures reveal.
The steep costs are partly because Romania has yet to tap widescale into solar and wind eneregy which are cheaper than other more traditional sources.
The government announced this month that it was delaying planned decarbonization goals for the energy sector and maintaining the use of coal for an extra two years until 2032.
Mines won’t be closed until suitable replacements have been created.
That means that electricity costs more for Romanians. On July 27, electricity cost 516 euros / MWh, the third highest in Europe after France and Italy, Monitorul Expres reported Thursday.
In comparison, Poles were paying half that amount and consumers in Spain and Portugal fork out a third of what Romanians are paying.
Other European countries get most of their power from solar farms and wind turbines, reported.
In Romania, just 10% of Romania’s electricity comes from solar farms, while 2% is from wind turbines.
Romania’s main source of electricity has traditionally been hydropower plants which provides 37% of its needs. About one-fifth comes from nuclear plants and thermal power stations that burn natural gas to generate electricity provide 21%.
Coal-fired plants provide 18%.
Gas prices soared after Russia invaded Ukraine which saw diminished exports to Europe.
Romania has a relatively advantageous position with its own natural gas supplies, but the system is integrated into the international energy market, and prices have risesn.
In comparison with Romania, neighboring countries such as Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Slovenia paid from 480 to 500 euros / MWh.
Sweden has the cheapest electricity at 42.8 euros / MWh followed by Finland which paid 83.2 per / MWh.
