- The “Romania Unfolds” platform, initiated by Veolia Romania, highlights stories from local communities where sustainable solutions turn challenges into opportunities for development.
- The new episode, dedicated to SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy – shows how Romania is harnessing renewable resources to strengthen its energy independence.
- Biogas and geothermal energy are becoming increasingly important sources in a sustainable economy, helping reduce both consumer costs and emissions.
The “Romania Unfolds” platform, initiated by Veolia Romania – a provider of integrated water and energy services – highlights how local communities contribute to the green transition through concrete initiatives. The latest episode, dedicated to SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy, shows how Romania is harnessing renewable resources to build a sustainable economy that leaves no one behind.
“Romania has real potential to become a regional hub for green energy production and storage. Beyond the better-known sources – hydro, wind, and solar – the country has enormous potential in geothermal energy and biogas production from waste. As Romania’s essential infrastructure, such as the energy and heating networks, requires modernization and expansion to serve more consumers, these sustainable solutions bring major economic and environmental benefits, reducing end-user costs, decarbonizing cities, and strengthening energy independence", said Mădălin Mihailovici, CEO of Veolia Romania.
Currently, around 30 biogas plants are operating nationwide, and fully harnessing this resource could generate 21.2 TWh of renewable energy per year – enough to power over 2 million homes. A single ton of recovered food waste can prevent up to 0.9 tons of CO₂ emissions and produce up to 250 m³ of biogas and 900 kWh of energy. The largest biogas plant in the country is located in Cordun commune, Neamț County, converting organic waste into thermal and electrical energy. The company operating the facility aims to reach an annual capacity of 10 million m³ of biogas, strengthening the private sector’s contribution to the energy transition.
At the same time, geothermal energy is becoming increasingly relevant in Romania’s energy landscape. The country holds an estimated resource of 1.67 million Gcal per year, already used in several successful local projects. A leading example is Lovrin commune (Timiș County) – the first locality in Romania to use geothermal water for residential heating. The system implemented there reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 20 times compared to gas installations and by 40 times compared to coal, proving the positive impact of clean energy investments on both the environment and local communities.
However, despite visible progress, energy inequality remains a major challenge. About 32% of Romanians live in energy poverty, and more than 7,500 households are still not connected to the electricity grid. In this context, projects such as “Energy for Life,” implemented by the Intelligent Energy Association, provide concrete and lasting solutions. By installing photovoltaic panels in 71 households across 8 counties, families in remote areas have gained access to electricity for the first time, helping reduce social and energy disparities.
Through its authentic stories, “Romania Unfolds” shows how innovation, collaboration, and the responsible use of local resources can turn communities into drivers of change. In this way, the energy transition in Romania takes shape through action, people, and sustainable solutions that power the future.
ABOUT VEOLIA
The Veolia Group aims to be the benchmark company for ecological transformation. Present on five continents and with approximately 215,000 employees, the Group designs and deploys useful, practical solutions for water, waste and energy management, contributing to a radical turnaround of the current situation. Through its three complementary divisions, Veolia helps develop access to resources, as well as their conservation and restoration. In 2024, the Veolia Group supplied drinking water to 111 million people and sewage services to 98 million people, produced 42 million megawatt-hours of energy, and treated 65 million tons of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE) achieved consolidated revenue of 44.7 billion euros in 2024.
In Romania, Veolia offers water and energy management solutions. With 3,600 employees, the company acts strategically at the local level to implement essential services at the highest quality standards and to support the development of smart cities, serving over 2,100,000 consumers.