Romanian car manufacturer Dacia is to install solar panels on the roof of the Mioveni car factory and will thus enter the local energy market, according to Ziarul Financiar. Dacia's parent company, French car maker Renault, has already installed solar panels at all six of its production plants in France (in picture).

The Renault solar panels are above car parking areas for staff and new cars waiting for distribution and have the added benefit of protecting vehicles from the sun. Renault's solar electricity generation system is the largest of its kind in the car manufacturing industry with a 59 MW capacity able to produce 52,600 MWh of electricity a year, enough for a town of 15,000 people.

The idea appears to be catching on in Romania, with several other companies considering developing such schemes. IKEA could install solar panels at its store in Baneasa, Bucharest while supermarket/cash & carry Selgros is already making money from the energy market via solar energy, according to Romanian business and economic news organization Ziarul Finaniar.

Dacia did not provide further details to the local media, indicating that more information would be provided at an appropriate time.

No mention was made of trading in green certificates, but with very favorable conditions currently in place in Romania for renewable energy producers, it is surely an extra incentive for other companies to follow Dacia's lead.

editor@romania-insider.com

photo source: renault.com