Romania Approves Construction of 1.24 GW Solar Plant That Could Set a European Record

Romania has taken a major step toward hosting the continent’s largest single solar installation. The national energy regulator ANRE has issued a construction authorization for the Dama Solar project — a 1.24 GW peak-capacity plant — to West Power Investments, a company linked to developer Rezolv Energy. The facility is not yet operational; commercial startup is targeted for September 2030.

The scale is striking by any European benchmark. Germany’s Witznitz plant currently holds the record for a single solar site on the continent at 650 MW, while Spain’s largest solar presence is a cluster of 17 separate facilities totaling 850 MW. Dama Solar would exceed both figures at a single location.

The project is located in Arad county, close to the Hungarian border, and will span 1,064 hectares with a grid connection point rated at 1.07 GW. Total development cost is estimated at €520 million. Under ANRE’s procedures, the construction authorization confirms that financing requirements have been satisfied in regulatory terms — though the underlying loan agreements are not yet formally closed.

Potential lenders have included the International Finance Corporation, which had been considering a €107 million contribution, alongside the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. On the revenue side, the project has already locked in government-backed contracts for difference for 520 MW of its capacity at a strike price of €42.2 per megawatt-hour, providing a floor for long-term returns.

Source: Balkan Green Energy News