Romania Joins the Global Solar Movement as the 118th Member Country of the International Solar Alliance

In a big boost to accelerate global adoption of solar energy, Romania officially joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as its 118th member country, signalling a robust commitment to advancing solar energy and contributing to global climate action.

Romania, under the leadership of H.E. Mr. Klaus Werner Iohannis, President of Romania, formally signed the framework agreement of the ISA, becoming a vital participant in the global effort to promote a solar-led energy transition. President Iohannis expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I’m very glad that Romania joins the International Solar Alliance today. This shows Romania’s firm commitment to becoming a carbon-neutral country by using renewable sources of energy.”

President Iohannis emphasized the strategic importance of this decision in enhancing Romania’s energy security. He further highlighted Romania’s ambitious solar energy targets outlined in the National Energy and Climate Plan, aiming to install over 8 gigawatts of solar energy capacity by 2030, constituting 24% of the gross final consumption of electricity from renewable sources. He added, “By joining the International Solar Alliance, Romania will have a broader and deeper cooperation with India too, the host of the International Solar Alliance Secretariat, as well as with other countries interested in accelerating climate change mitigation. Romania aims to scale up its solar energy capacity and enhance national access to solar power at affordable prices. For this, we also need to cooperate at the global level through alliances like this one on solar, finance technology development, and capacity building. The accession to this alliance will support Romania in implementing its ambitious solar energy targets included in the national energy and climate plan by 2030.”

Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director-General of the ISA, welcomed Romania to the alliance, expressing optimism about the collaboration. “Romania was one of the first countries in the world to export oil, and I hope it now becomes a country that also exports electricity from renewables, specifically solar,” remarked Dr. Mathur. He outlined the ISA’s commitment to working with Romania on solar deployment, capacity building, and regulatory training programs.

H.E. Mr. Sebastian-Ioan Burduja, Minister of Energy, Romania, underscored Romania’s significant solar potential in Southeast Europe, emphasizing the country’s commitment to a clean energy transition. He noted the tremendous growth in the solar sector, with over 100,000 households adopting solar panels, contributing to Romania’s energy goals. He said, “Romania has the largest solar potential in southeast Europe. Study after study proves that we could exploit up to 20 GW of solar power, and the entire sector has seen tremendous growth in recent years. We have also announced a nationwide campaign called, “Energy for Life, Let’s Turn on the Light”. It targets over 50,000 households that have never had electricity, and we hope to involve the private sector and civil society in a nationwide campaign to make sure that no child has to study by the candlelight in Romania.”

The ISA, established during the COP21 in Paris, has been at the forefront of advancing solar energy initiatives globally. The framework agreement signed by Romania aligns with ISA’s key interventions focused on readiness, enabling activities, risk mitigation, and innovative financing instruments to promote and deploy solar technologies in target markets.