Hydroelectric Director: Hydroelectric plants are not sufficiently supported in Europe

Bogdan Badea, the general director of Hidroelectrica, stated that hydropower plants in Europe are not sufficiently supported, which hinders the continuation of investments and increases bureaucracy. With a capacity of 6.3 gigawatts in hydropower plants, Romania is theoretically aligned with the Green Deal objectives, but hydro energy is treated as a "Cinderella" of renewable technologies. Badea highlighted that, despite the rapid decommissioning of base capacities, not enough environmentally friendly technologies have been implemented, creating an imbalance in the energy sector. He emphasized the importance of hydropower in the energy mix, as the main provider for energy security. Last year, hydropower production significantly decreased due to drought, and Badea warned that replacing old technologies with new ones will require greater storage capacity. He also criticized bureaucracy, mentioning that obtaining an environmental permit takes about five years, which hinders investments in the sector. The regional conference "The Economist Romania Government Roundtable" addresses important economic themes, including financial stability and the sustainability of public systems.