Catalin Alistar
Sunday, 04 October 2009


Probably many of you are familiar with photovoltaic cells.

This time it's not just about computer or pocket watch from his hand. Production of electricity or solar thermal is a great business, a business dream. In Spain, Germany, Austria, Czech or even Bulgaria.

The civilized world, renewable energy production is not only a cheaper solution and more ethical, but tends to become an extended business. Already, at European level, we can talk about a post-boom period, solar business being in the period of settlement after several years of explosive development.

A Romanian specific story: the other end, in November did not start. Government of Romania hangs by a whole economic sector that simply does nothing, all the same reasons politicking.

Start loser

European Directive known phrase "20/20/20" kicked off solar business. By 2020, the EU needs to reduce noxious emissions by 20% and produce 20% of all energy from renewable sources. It was in 2005 and since then, the Union gives money for projects 'green'.

In October 2008, Romanian authorities have produced, in turn, Act 220, which should cover things in the field. Ministry of Environment, by administratively Environmental Fund (AFM), launches "Green House" about the same time, trying the famous in subsidies to renewable energy.

In late September, there are still rules implementing Law 220, so it is inoperable, has dropped the "green house" and still working on an applicant's guide to finance these projects.

On black talk that former Social Democratic Minister of Environment, Nicholas Nemirschi, did not understand the economy minister, Videanu, on firms to be permitted to apply the program. As a result, have given up everything. Money is, AFM has provided almost 150 million euros, the Ministry of Economy, manager of European funds for energy, so once again, but you can not access the money.

Projects moldy in drawers

According to Vlad Marcoci, president of AFM, have been submitted so far 150 proposals for funding for projects for the production of energy "green" a part in the production of solar energy. All come from local authorities, who want to put solar panels on hospitals, schools and other institutions, which receive 70% of the project.

If private companies, financing is 50%, more than 5 million euros. "The law provides a subsidy of 90% for individuals who want to mount solar panels. But the state can not have a contractual relationship with an individual to qualify for subsidies interested must form an association of owners, "said Marcoci, but complementing that there even such a grant application.

An exceptional business

Investing in a complete solar system for hot water production and heat for housing starts from 500-600 euro may rise to several thousand. In principle, the investment pays off in 3-4 years, after which hot water and heat are a part of life totată free on solar panels, ie 20-25 years. But business really is the solar farms.

A handy example is the Czech Republic, where solar business is burgeoning. Czech state guarantees a price of 0.48 euro per kW delivered in a network of solar electricity production, five times the normal price.

The price is guaranteed for 20 years and can be changed up to 5% annually, making the business to be predictable and manageable. Currently, production capacity of total solar energy in the Czech Republic is almost 90 MW, is tripling in the last 12 months.

In Spain, the largest solar energy producer in the world, the business has attracted so large that today produce 2.5 GW, well above the government target, who also decided to reduce subsidies that can not cope. Great Spanish investors are now targeting the Central and Eastern Europe.

Green profits are far

In Romania, says Nicholas Florişteanu, director of local subsidiary of Dutch company Girasolar, total installed production capacity of solar power is 0.1 MW.

"The potential for solar farms is very high, but the lack of legislation and complicated process of obtaining funding hinder development," said Florişteanu. Relevant is a simulation of investment made by Girasolar, a solar farm in the Piatra-Neamt, with a production capacity of 3 MW / h.

The initial investment would be 12 million euros, and the farm would produce an average of 5100 MW per year. If the subsidy would be discussed now by the government (four green certification for each MW photovoltaic product), would result in a price delivery network of approximately 0.25 per kW.

The farm would receive about 1.3 million per year so, the investment would pay off in just over nine years, the remaining life, 10-15 years, to go only on profit.

If the investor should obtain and financing, legal, 50% of investment value, the depreciation would be up to five years and profits would accrue for 20 years, or ten million.

The future is dull sun

Company VES of Sighisoara, filed as early as October 2008 a draft urging European funding for establishing a section for the production of panels and solar systems. Amount financed is 2 million euros, half of total investment.

"We recently received a call from someone in authority management of European funds, the only sign that I had it last year after filing. We asked if we are interested in financing, "he complained John Ciotloş Director VES SA. Applying the green certificates, still in the experimental stage, is still slow and the current rate, a certificate for 1 MW "green" is not enough. Most European countries provide a direct subsidy.

Legal vacuum or chaos is added and "whims" of energy carriers, the national system with points where they can retrieve additional electricity. "It would be nice if someone would say, invest in this area or that because here we can take over production," adds director Girasolar.

Most likely, clear laws in this area, which means, in fact, actually started the business with energy, we will not be until next year. That means, I think most of those involved in the field, the solar future of Romania is delayed by at least two years, taking into account the investment and time required. It may be too late.




FIRST STEPS. Only 21 companies gathered at the fair. Green industry in Romania is at embryonic
Photo: Adrian Scutariu


DELEGATES

Fair renewables

Today ended Technologies Fair and Alternative Energies, which took place at Children's Palace in Bucharest. Although only 21 exhibitors participated, producing and distributing firms, consulting companies and environmental organizations, interest was high enough. Especially in the days of the weekend, thousands of visitors crossed the threshold stands of the fair.

"Despite the economic crisis, which led to the cancellation or postponement of many fairs and exhibitions, we can say that we have been successful. Visitors are very interested in renewable energy and must do more to promote them, "said Madalina Giurescu, one of the organizers.

A free fall BUSINESS

Ignorance and indifference to the dedication of the government

For participants in the fair energy and alternative technologies, the most difficult is to explain the basic principles Reşat interested. "It's unbelievable how little people know about renewable energy," says Gheorghe Rosca, manager of the company Trigon Service, in Ploiesti.

Rosca working for several years in the field and made some of the first production of solar energy projects in Romania. Most of the work done in the port of Constanta, an integrated project worth 13 million euros. For now, Rosca working on projects for local authorities, those eligible for grant funds guvernamentele. But that only mayors and local councils can access the money is a double-edged sword.

Projects like hospitals or large institutions are feasible, but smaller projects are more likely to throw money out the window. "We had projects in schools in the country, where two to three sinks. Children use toilets in the school yard and we put them expensive technology, cutting-edge, solar thermal systems, "explains one of the paradoxes Rosca Romanian funding.

In 2009, sales of just 5% from last year

Solarom is one of very few manufacturers of domestic water heating systems using solar energy. The company is Nazarcea in Constanta county, a line assembling solar panels produced in Australia, privately financed investment several years ago on grounds that the industry will develop rapidly. Year 2009 but seems to be one of all suffering.

"In 2008, we sold about 2000 square meters of photovoltaic panels. So far this year we sold 100 square meters, or 5% of last year, "says George Voinea, general manager of Solarom. With the sector is not supported at all by the government, the future is uncertain.

"I think we need a new generation of politicians. These guys now not only to steal, we speak well in front and the back are not only things that can make their money, "concludes George Rosca.

TOP

Romania, the last place

The price received by producers of solar energy per kW delivered to the national distribution network







Impasse. Solar farms are nonexistent in Romania, a very large being blocked because of government schism
Photo: Reuters

http://www.evz.ro/articole/detalii-articol/870229/Apus-de-soare/