Turkish Investors Expand Their Ambitions in Romania’s Solar and Energy Storage Sector

Held under the theme “Building the Next Wave of Energy Investment”, the Forum brought together investors, banks, technology providers and advisers from Romania and Türkiye to discuss investment plans and the conditions needed to support their delivery.

“We are seeing growing interest from major Turkish energy companies and industrial groups with the experience, resources and commitment to invest for the long term. Their presence and the scale of their ambitions point to a more mature phase of energy cooperation between our countries. BESCA’s role is to strengthen this investment community, connect it with Romanian expertise and institutions, and create a lasting foundation for cooperation,” said Mesut Güler, President of BESCA.

Entek Elektrik, part of Koç Group, presented project development activities to add co-located battery storage to its 205 MWp solar park in Dambovita County, where construction is already more than halfway complete. 

“Romania offers significant opportunities for renewable energy investment, but the real challenge is turning the large number of projects on paper into operating assets. Grid capacity is a critical factor, and not every project seeking a connection will reach construction,” said Volkan Aktürk, Deputy General Manager of Entek Elektrik.

Akfen Renewable Energy outlined its first renewable energy investment outside Türkiye: a solar-plus-storage project developed with a Romanian partner, with construction expected to begin in 2027.

For Claritas Investments, an international investment group developing a portfolio of more than 550 MWp of solar capacity combined with 2 GWh of battery energy storage in Timiș County, Romania, the scale of its current projects reflects years of market assessment, development experience, and a long-term commitment to the country.

“We have been looking at Romania for seven years. We started by evaluating projects of 20 or 50 MW, and today we are working on developments of an entirely different scale. Romania has its challenges, particularly in terms of grid connections and financing, but our experience has shown us that the opportunities are real and that the market offers significant potential for long-term investment,” said Erdem Eskiil, Director at Claritas Investments.

The Forum also brought the Romanian Embassy’s perspective on opportunities for bilateral cooperation in renewable energy, storage and grid infrastructure.

“Romania and Türkiye have an opportunity to take their energy cooperation to a new level. Romania needs major investments in renewable energy, storage and grid modernization, areas where Turkish companies have strong engineering, manufacturing and project delivery capabilities,” said Bogdan Mihăilescu, the newly appointed Head of the Economic and Commercial Section of the Embassy of Romania in Türkiye.

The Forum’s agenda covered project selection, EU funding, technology, financing and operation, alongside investors’ first-hand experience of the Romanian market.

“Romania has an experienced energy industry and the local expertise to support investments on a larger scale. Through BESCA, we bring that capacity closer to Turkish investors and build connections between businesses, financial institutions and public authorities in both countries. This is a practical contribution to economic diplomacy, helping investment interest develop into lasting business relationships and stronger cooperation between Romania and Türkiye,” said Alina Ștefan, Executive Director of BESCA.

The Türkiye–Romania Energy Forum is part of BESCA’s work to develop energy cooperation between Romania, Türkiye and the wider Black Sea region through investment partnerships, professional connections and the exchange of expertise.