Connection permit holders will be held accountable through a mechanism involving the introduction of a financial guarantee for the construction of power plants exceeding 200 kW in capacity. The corresponding amendments to the Electricity Law were approved today during the Cabinet meeting.

The proposed changes by the Ministry of Energy include the obligation to submit financial guarantees when requesting a connection permit. The value of the guarantee for power plants with a capacity greater than 200 kW will be determined by the National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE).

"The project will unlock the situation with connection permits for renewable energy. This year, we can release a large capacity that had been blocked, including for speculative purposes by certain actors in the energy market. From now on, those wishing to obtain a permit will need to submit a guarantee to ensure that their intention is to invest. A transition period until June 30, 2025, will also be granted. During this period, those who withdraw from permits obtained with speculative intent will be exempt from fines," said Prime Minister Dorin Recean.

The guarantees will be refunded only if the power plant is commissioned according to the permit. In cases where the power plant is not put into operation within the established deadlines, the financial guarantee will be used by the system operator to modernize the electricity grid.

"By introducing financial guarantees, we aim to hold connection permit holders accountable and ensure that we support serious investors who have the necessary resources. This measure is crucial for unlocking the network's capacity, allowing for the rapid and efficient implementation of green energy projects for the benefit of the entire national economy," said Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu.

Additionally, connection permit holders for power plants with a capacity greater than 200 kW, obtained before the law comes into effect, as well as holders of permits for power plants of the same capacity whose validity period has been extended until the law's effective date, have the right to voluntarily withdraw from the connection permit until June 30, 2025, by notifying the system operator in writing.

The project also provides exemptions from the financial guarantee for permit holders representing energy communities or those with eligible producer status, i.e., those holding permits for the construction of a photovoltaic park with a capacity of 1 MW or a wind farm of up to 4 MW, with a fixed tariff for 15 years.

Permit holders who do not use their permits within the deadline will be sanctioned with a fee ranging from 50% to 70% of the financial guarantee amount.

These measures are designed to unlock the network's capacity for real investors who have the necessary resources and intend to complete green energy projects.

Currently, the transmission system operator, Moldelectrica, issues permits for a total of approximately 1,500 MW for the installation of new capacities, mainly from renewable energy sources. However, less than 10% of these connection permits are put into operation annually. This situation limits the ability of investors with genuine intentions to develop renewable energy power plants.

At the same time, Premier Energy Distribution currently issues connection permits for a total capacity of 329 MW, while the distribution system operator S.A. "Rețelele Electrice de Distribuție Nord" issues connection permits for 96.4 MW.