EBRD Provides Up To €34M Loan To Scatec-Backed Solar Projects In Southern Romania, Advancing 189.7 MW Renewable Capacity & Reducing 118,600 Tonnes Of CO₂ Annually

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) continues to play a pivotal role in supporting Romania’s renewable energy ambitions. The bank is providing a senior secured loan of up to €34 million to three newly established Romanian companies — Solar World SRL, RB Solar Energy SRL, and Energie Soleil SRL for the development, construction, and operation of two solar power plants in southern Romania.

The project will be co-financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB), which will provide a senior loan of up to €34 million, and by Banca Comercială Română (BCR), contributing a senior loan of up to €17.5 million. These financing arrangements mark Scatec ASA’s entry into the Romanian renewable energy market. Scatec, a Norway-based renewable energy developer, owns 65 per cent of the three companies, while the remaining 35 per cent is held by Turkish engineering services provider Defic Globe Energji AS.

EBRD’s financing will be structured into two separate tranches. The first tranche of up to €28 million will support a 61.9 MW solar plant operating under full merchant exposure, while the second tranche of up to €6 million will fund a 127.8 MW plant backed by a 15-year Contract for Difference (CfD) scheme, providing price stability over the long term. The merchant tranche benefits from a first-loss guarantee provided by the European Union under the InvestEU programme, helping to reduce risk and encourage greater private sector participation in the renewable energy sector.

Together, the two plants will have a total installed capacity of 189.7 MW. Once operational, they are expected to generate approximately 286.9 GWh of green electricity per year, avoiding an estimated 118,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. This contribution will significantly advance Romania’s clean energy goals while supporting its transition toward a more sustainable energy system.

The initiative also places strong emphasis on social inclusion and skills development. The project sponsors plan to launch a training programme in partnership with local technical institutions, focusing on green energy and digital skills. The programme will ensure a minimum level of female participation, promoting gender diversity in the traditionally male-dominated energy sector. Technical cooperation support for this initiative is provided by the EU through the InvestEU Advisory Hub.

This investment underscores EBRD’s broader commitment to accelerating the green transition in Romania and across Central and Eastern Europe. The bank is a key implementing partner for the European Union’s InvestEU programme, which supports sustainable investment, innovation, and job creation in the region. The programme aims to trigger more than €372 billion in additional investments between 2021 and 2027. From 2022 to 2027, InvestEU guarantees worth €777 million will be leveraged by EBRD to finance projects of up to €3.8 billion in eligible sectors.

In Romania, EBRD has played a leading role in developing the CfD scheme, which has successfully attracted renewable energy investments by providing developers with long-term revenue stability. The bank has supported two auction rounds under this scheme and has also made substantial direct investments in the renewable energy sector. By combining financial support, risk mitigation, and technical guidance, EBRD continues to strengthen Romania’s renewable energy market while encouraging sustainable economic growth and energy transition in the region.