Romania advances offshore wind legislation despite delays; Bulgaria faces political hurdles and fisher protests.
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Romania has an existing legislative framework for offshore wind energy development in the Black Sea, with the government still in early stages of identifying areas for concession. A World Bank report from September 2024 suggests potential investments of up to 19 billion euros by 2035 in Romania’s Black Sea zone, presenting two scenarios: a reduced growth scenario involving 150 turbines (3 GW capacity) or an intensive growth scenario with 360 turbines (7 GW capacity). Despite the legislation coming into effect in June 2024, deadlines for identifying concession areas and establishing regulations have been missed. The Ministry of Energy has initiated studies to identify potential offshore wind zones, with completion expected around 2026, followed by competitive bidding procedures potentially starting in 2027-2028.
In Bulgaria, despite significant technical potential (up to 116 GW), development is stalled due to political hesitation and protests from small-scale fishermen. While large commercial fishing fleets support offshore wind under certain conditions, smaller fishers fear loss of livelihood. Experts suggest that while a dedicated law might not be strictly necessary if there is political will, the current regulatory environment faces hurdles. Four key areas in Bulgaria have been identified as having high potential for offshore wind projects, with Shabla being considered the most promising near the Romanian border. Offshore wind could attract 15 to 20 billion euros in investment and create around 27,000 jobs by 2035.
