Recording from Tuesday, October 13, 2026 | Intersolar Summit Romania | Language: English | Duration: 85:57 .
Irene Mihai, Policy Director/Romanian Photovoltaic and Storage Industry Association (RPIA), moderated a discussion with David Wedepohl, Managing Director International Affairs/BSW - German Solar Association; Christian Leonte, CEO/WALDEVAR Holding; and Mihaela Nyerges, Managing Partner/Nyerges & Partners. Wedepohl described global solar and battery growth, falling installation costs, China’s dominant role in manufacturing, and the geopolitical and grid challenges facing the energy transition; he also presented Germany’s experience, including its shift toward utility-scale solar and growing battery deployment. Nyerges said Romania’s growth reflects strong solar resources, a need to replace decommissioned coal capacity, faster permitting, agrivoltaics rules, the 15-year contract-for-difference scheme, and grant funding, while noting that about 2 GW of solar projects benefit from the scheme. She explained that grid-connection rights for around 115 gigawatts of projects had accumulated under the former first-come, first-served system, prompting new financial guarantees, project milestones, and an auction-based capacity-allocation process that still needs refinement. Leonte said Romanian companies can execute large projects and have expanded their engineering, construction, grid-connection, and operations capabilities, but emphasized that grid infrastructure and predictable rules remain key constraints; he also stressed the need to define “ready to build” clearly. The panel discussed measures supporting storage in Romania, including removal of double taxation, grants, and rules encouraging hybrid projects, while identifying unresolved issues around storage tariffs and adding batteries to projects supported by contracts for difference. Closing remarks highlighted the shift from simply adding generation capacity toward flexible, digitalized systems that combine solar, storage, grid improvements, electrification, and investment in skilled workers.
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Speaker
Irene Mihai
Policy Director
Romanian Photovoltaic and Storage Industry Association (RPIA)
David Wedepohl
Managing Director International Affairs
BSW - German Solar Association
Christian Leonte
CEO
WALDEVAR Holding
Mihaela Nyerges
Managing Partner
Nyerges & Partners
This opening session sets the strategic framework for the entire conference and provides a comprehensive overview of current market dynamics in the solar energy and energy storage sectors. The keynote analyzes global growth trends—from the dominance of the Chinese supply chain and the impact of trade barriers to the development of regional manufacturing capacities in Europe. Following this, the panel discussion explores the effects of new regulatory requirements—such as revised grid codes, auction designs, and national subsidy schemes—on project development and financing. A particular focus is placed on how policy frameworks must evolve to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy while ensuring system stability.