Sălaj Solar: Shikun & Binui Secures 85 MW License — NRG-IA

ANRE authorizes commercial operations in Sălaj — how the 85 MW enters the grid Shikun & Binui has secured the ANRE commercial license for 85 MW of solar power in Sălaj, marking a new phase in the expansion of generation capacity in Northwestern Romania. The decision by the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) targets two solar plants operated by Green Energy Vision S.R.L., an entity controlled by the Israeli group Shikun & Binui Energy. According to reports from e-nergia and confirmed by Economica.net , the commercial license allows the developer to actively inject electricity into the National Energy System (SEN) and sell production on the centralized markets managed by OPCOM or via bilateral PPAs. The two plants in Sălaj county represent a significant step toward the geographic diversification of Romania's renewable assets. Until now, most massive solar park developments have been concentrated in the southern and southeastern regions, where solar radiation is at its peak. The commissioning of this 85 MW project proves that the northwestern region is becoming highly attractive to major international developers, despite a slightly lower theoretical yield compared to the Romanian Plain or Dobrogea. The transition from testing to active commercial operation is a positive signal for the local market, which is facing an acute need for new generation capacity to compensate for the gradual retirement of coal-fired units. Shikun & Binui Energy's project confirms the steady pace at which mature, privately funded projects are successfully navigating regulatory hurdles to become operational. Why developers are choosing the North-West over the sunnier South The selection of Sălaj county for such a large-scale investment highlights a growing technical reality in the Romanian energy sector: available grid connection capacity. While southern regions are nearly grid-locked due to congestion, and grid connection permits (ATR) are issued with distant completion dates, the transmission network in the North-West still offers room to accommodate green energy. Another key factor is land availability and acquisition costs, which tend to be more competitive in areas less historically explored by renewable developers. Shikun & Binui capitalized on this opportunity, completing construction and securing licensing within an optimal timeframe, avoiding the major bureaucratic and technical bottlenecks plaguing similar projects in Dobrogea or Muntenia. Furthermore, the consumption structure in Transylvania, a heavily industrialized region, offers a strategic commercial advantage. Generating energy close to large industrial consumers reduces technical transmission losses for Transelectrica and provides excellent opportunities for concluding direct Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), which are highly sought after by companies looking to hedge prices and decarbonize their operations. Grid impact: local pressure on Transelectrica or regional balancing? Integrating 85 MW of intermittent solar power into the northwestern grid brings clear benefits, but also technical challenges. On one hand, local generation reduces the region's dependence on energy transported over long distances from the south or east, where the majority of nuclear, hydro, and wind capacities are located. This local contribution can help stabilize voltage at regional transmission nodes. On the other hand, Transelectrica must manage the rapid production fluctuations typical of solar parks. In the absence of integrated storage capacities at the Sălaj plants, energy produced during peak solar hours must either be consumed locally or exported to other regions or across the border via interconnections with Hungary. This scenario underscores the urgent need to accelerate investments in battery storage nationwide. For end consumers, the growing share of solar energy in the daytime production mix exerts downward pressure on Day-Ahead Market (PZ) prices. However, the direct impact on bills will be tempered by distribution tariffs and balancing costs, which remain high during periods when renewable output drops sharply and the system must rely on expensive conventional sources, such as gas or coal plants. What lies ahead for Shikun & Binui's portfolio and Romanian grid integration Securing the license for the two parks in Sălaj is just one milestone in the Israeli group's long-term plan for Romania. Shikun & Binui Energy holds a significant portfolio of projects in various stages of development, targeting both solar and wind technologies. The operational success of these 85 MW could accelerate final investment decisions for the remaining projects in their pipeline. In the short term, the operator's primary challenge will be optimizing its energy sales strategy. In a market increasingly characterized by negative prices during midday hours, operating without storage or well-negotiated PPAs can erode the financial returns of the investment. Consequently, the market expects Green…