8 April 2024

Newsletter

On the 5th of April 2024, the Ministry of Energy published the two final guides for the Modernisation Fund for projects developing solar, wind and hydro production capacities (budget: EUR 400 million) and self – consumption capacities (budget EUR 415 million).

The submission timeframe for both grants is 25th of April 2024 – 23rd of July 2024.

Please find below some details on the grant of electricity production capacities.

Maximum grant: EUR 20 million per group, per investment project. Although the provisions of the guide are unclear, our view is that the group may apply for the funding of multiple projects without exceeding however the threshold of EUR 20 million for all such projects.

Maximum grant per MW:

     700,000 EUR/MW – wind projects;
     450,000 EUR/MW – solar projects with a maximum capacity of 5 MW;
     360,000 EUR/MW – solar projects with a capacity of over 5 MW;
     1,805,000 EUR/MW – hydro capacities.

Total Budget*:
     EUR 100,000,000 – wind projects;
     EUR 120,000,000 – solar projects with a maximum capacity of 5 MW;
     EUR 80,000,000 – solar projects with a capacity of over 5 MW;
     EUR 100,000,000 – hydro capacities.

*The Ministry of Energy may redistribute the budget from one category of production to another, if there are not sufficient applications to absorb the budget of the redistributed category.

Total annual budget: maximum EUR 150 million

Project implementation period: no later than 31st December 2026

Storage capacities are also a criteria in the evaluation process, in addition to the requested state aid amount, and it is possible to receive a maximum 10 points for them. The storage capacity must be able to store power for at least 12 minutes.

Financed activities: installations, equipment and constructions.

Payment of funds: reimbursement of expenditure incurred and through a pre – financing mechanism

Important requirements:

   Contract of land acquisition/superficies etc. or proof of initiation of the procedure for obtaining the right of use (for minimum 5 years following the final payment date under the financing agreement) to be submitted at the submission of the financing request;
   ATR and environmental permit are not necessary at the submission of the financing request. These documents are required for the conclusion of the financing agreement.
     Feasibility study to be submitted at the submission of the financing request;
   The minimum production capacity of the project has to be of minimum 11.4% or 1000 hours/year for solar projects, minimum 24% or 2100 hours/year for wind projects and minimum 27.4% or 2400 hours/year for hydro projects;
     No construction activities (including construction related agreements) shall be performed prior to the financing request submission date;
     Newly established companies must have a share capital of at least RON 100,000 or approximately EUR 20,000.
    Solvency of the applicant must be proved at the date of submission of the financing request. If the applicant does not meet the solvency indicator (i.e. the ratio between Total Liabilities and Equity, which must be positive and less than 7.5 in the last financial year) or is a newly established company, a binding letter of comfort from a banking or non – banking institution authorised by the National Bank of Romania must be submitted along with the financing request.

Anca Mihăilescu
Managing Partner
Mobile: +40 791 454 988
E-mail: anca.mihailescu@mihailesculegal.ro
Georgiana Evi
Partner
Mobile: + 40 743 636 130
Email: georgiana.evi@mihailesculegal.ro
8 April 2024

Newsletter

On the 5th of April 2024, the Ministry of Energy published the two final guides for the Modernisation Fund for projects developing solar, wind and hydro production capacities (budget: EUR 400 million) and self – consumption capacities (budget EUR 415 million).

The submission timeframe for both grants is 25th of April 2024 – 23rd of July 2024.

Please find below some details on the grant of electricity production capacities.

Maximum grant: EUR 20 million per group, per investment project. Although the provisions of the guide are unclear, our view is that the group may apply for the funding of multiple projects without exceeding however the threshold of EUR 20 million for all such projects.

Maximum grant per MW:

     700,000 EUR/MW - wind projects;

     450,000 EUR/MW - solar projects with a maximum capacity of 5 MW;

     360,000 EUR/MW - solar projects with a capacity of over 5 MW;

     1,805,000 EUR/MW - hydro capacities.

Total Budget*:

     EUR 100,000,000 - wind projects;

     EUR 120,000,000 - solar projects with a maximum capacity of 5 MW;

     EUR 80,000,000 - solar projects with a capacity of over 5 MW;

     EUR 100,000,000 - hydro capacities.

*The Ministry of Energy may redistribute the budget from one category of production to another, if there are not sufficient applications to absorb the budget of the redistributed category.

Total annual budget: maximum EUR 150 million

Project implementation period: no later than 31st December 2026

Storage capacities are also a criteria in the evaluation process, in addition to the requested state aid amount, and it is possible to receive a maximum 10 points for them. The storage capacity must be able to store power for at least 12 minutes.

Financed activities: installations, equipment and constructions.

Payment of funds: reimbursement of expenditure incurred and through a pre - financing mechanism

Important requirements:

    Contract of land acquisition/superficies etc. or proof of initiation of the procedure for obtaining the right of use (for minimum 5 years following the final payment date under the financing agreement) to be submitted at the submission of the financing request;

    ATR and environmental permit are not necessary at the submission of the financing request. These documents are required for the conclusion of the financing agreement.

    Feasibility study to be submitted at the submission of the financing request;

    The minimum production capacity of the project has to be of minimum 11.4% or 1000 hours/year for solar projects, minimum 24% or 2100 hours/year for wind projects and minimum 27.4% or 2400 hours/year for hydro projects;

     No construction activities (including construction related agreements) shall be performed prior to the financing request submission date;

     Newly established companies must have a share capital of at least RON 100,000 or approximately EUR 20,000.

    Solvency of the applicant must be proved at the date of submission of the financing request. If the applicant does not meet the solvency indicator (i.e. the ratio between Total Liabilities and Equity, which must be positive and less than 7.5 in the last financial year) or is a newly established company, a binding letter of comfort from a banking or non - banking institution authorised by the National Bank of Romania must be submitted along with the financing request.

Anca Mihăilescu
Managing Partner
Mobile: +40 791 454 988
E-mail: anca.mihailescu@mihailesculegal.ro
Georgiana Evi
Partner
Mobile: + 40 743 636 130
Email: georgiana.evi@mihailesculegal.ro
8 April 2024

Newsletter

On the 5th of April 2024, the Ministry of Energy published the two final guides for the Modernisation Fund for projects developing solar, wind and hydro production capacities (budget: EUR 400 million) and self – consumption capacities (budget EUR 415 million).

The submission timeframe for both grants is 25th of April 2024 – 23rd of July 2024.

Please find below some details on the grant of electricity production capacities.

Maximum grant: EUR 20 million per group, per investment project. Although the provisions of the guide are unclear, our view is that the group may apply for the funding of multiple projects without exceeding however the threshold of EUR 20 million for all such projects.

Maximum grant per MW:

     700,000 EUR/MW – wind projects;

     450,000 EUR/MW – solar projects with a maximum capacity of 5 MW;

     360,000 EUR/MW – solar projects with a capacity of over 5 MW;

     1,805,000 EUR/MW – hydro capacities.

Total Budget*:

     EUR 100,000,000 – wind projects;

     EUR 120,000,000 – solar projects with a maximum capacity of 5 MW;

     EUR 80,000,000 – solar projects with a capacity of over 5 MW;

     EUR 100,000,000 – hydro capacities.

*The Ministry of Energy may redistribute the budget from one category of production to another, if there are not sufficient applications to absorb the budget of the redistributed category.

Total annual budget: maximum EUR 150 million

Project implementation period: no later than 31st December 2026

Storage capacities are also a criteria in the evaluation process, in addition to the requested state aid amount, and it is possible to receive a maximum 10 points for them. The storage capacity must be able to store power for at least 12 minutes.

Financed activities: installations, equipment and constructions.

Payment of funds: reimbursement of expenditure incurred and through a pre – financing mechanism

Important requirements:

    Contract of land acquisition/superficies etc. or proof of initiation of the procedure for obtaining the right of use (for minimum 5 years following the final payment date under the financing agreement) to be submitted at the submission of the financing request;

    ATR and environmental permit are not necessary at the submission of the financing request. These documents are required for the conclusion of the financing agreement.

    Feasibility study to be submitted at the submission of the financing request;

    The minimum production capacity of the project has to be of minimum 11.4% or 1000 hours/year for solar projects, minimum 24% or 2100 hours/year for wind projects and minimum 27.4% or 2400 hours/year for hydro projects;

     No construction activities (including construction related agreements) shall be performed prior to the financing request submission date;

     Newly established companies must have a share capital of at least RON 100,000 or approximately EUR 20,000.

    Solvency of the applicant must be proved at the date of submission of the financing request. If the applicant does not meet the solvency indicator (i.e. the ratio between Total Liabilities and Equity, which must be positive and less than 7.5 in the last financial year) or is a newly established company, a binding letter of comfort from a banking or non – banking institution authorised by the National Bank of Romania must be submitted along with the financing request.

Anca Mihăilescu
Managing Partner
Mobile: +40 791 454 988
E-mail: anca.mihailescu@mihailesculegal.ro
Georgiana Evi
Partner
Mobile: + 40 743 636 130
Email: georgiana.evi@mihailesculegal.ro