Romania has a wind energy potential of around 14,000 MW and wind turbines totaling 500 MW could be installed by 2015, according to Danish wind turbine producer Vestas, which has recently opened an office in Romania. “We have been monitoring the Romanian market for the last five years, then there was no wind energy production, this market has developed and can become mature,” said Hans Jorn Rieks, president of Vestas for the Central Europe.

He believes the electricity network and the legislation in Romania could however be improved for this market segment. The possibility of Vestas opening a factory in Romania much depends on how the market will develop in a couple of years, according to Andrew Hilton, VP of communication for Vestas in Central Europe.

The company sold wind turbines with a total capacity of 450 MW in Romania last year. Vestas Romania employs 31 people in sales, marketing and engineering in Bucharest and in Constanta. As of June 30, 2010, Vestas has installed 22 wind turbines in Romania, with a total capacity of 43.66 MW.

editor@romania-insider.com