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Turkey earns EUR 84.8 million upfront from solar power auction

Investors in photovoltaic projects were mostly willing to pay large sums at Turkey’s latest YEKA auction to secure a minimum guaranteed price for five years, followed by 20-year power purchase agreements. The government earned EUR 84.8 million overall from the secondary bidding for 650 MW, split into six areas. One zone is for a floating solar power plant.

According to Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar, domestic electricity demand is on a trajectory to triple to 1.05 PWh in the next 30 years. It follows an almost threefold jump of the last two decades, while natural gas is rising even faster, he pointed out.

The minister has urged investors to keep up the momentum, noting that the national goal for 2035 for solar and wind power is 120 GW in total.

One of the pillars of the government’s measures to incentivize such endeavors are renewable energy auctions. Notably, the obligatory domestic content rates are high, to boost manufacturing in the sector.

The latest solar power auction under the Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) state support mechanism even brought substantial earnings for Turkey, for the second time. The bidding was initiated at the ceiling price, EUR 55 per MWh, and when the floor level was reached at EUR 32.5 per MWh, the remaining competitors were switched to another auction.

They offered so-called contribution shares, starting at a stunning 10,000 per MW of planned connection capacity. The quota for the REZ SPP 2025 (YEKA GES 2025) round was 650 MW, split into eight zones. Two zones were taken off the table after the call, due to delays in permitting.

Highest fee was EUR 285,000 per MW

In total, Turkey cashed in EUR 84.8 million or EUR 130,400 per MW of connection capacity, excluding value-added tax.

The Eskişehir zone, 260 MW, went for EUR 105,000 per MW to Efor Holding. The company was successful at the previous wind power auction as well, early this year.

Stone Enerji won the Erzurum 1 segment, of 100 MW, by pledging EUR 100,000 per MW. Sertaş Turizm took Erzurum 3, at 85 MW, for EUR 120,000 per MW.

The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources included a floating solar power plant project for the first time

The 50 MW Bolu zone went to Ecogreen Enerji. The company is paying 44,000 per MW, the least of all winners.

Kahramanmaraş, of 40 MW, was awarded to Güçlü GES Enerji. It pledged EUR 285,000 per MW, which was the highest contribution fee. Aydede Enerji has obtained the Mardin zone for EUR 208,000 per MW while Zincir GES Enerji managed to win the Van solar power project for EUR 187,000 per MW. Both are for 40 MW.

The auction also featured the first zone for a floating solar power plant. Demirköprü Yüzer GES in Manisa province, for 35 MW, was taken by a firm with the same name. It is paying EUR 225,000 per MW, the ministry has revealed.

Solar power auction facilitates USD 400 million in investments

There were 77 applications altogether, from 38 companies.

The winners will be able to sell electricity on the free market for five years. However, they are guaranteed at least their contracted price, which in all cases is the floor price – EUR 32.5 per MWh. The second period, 20 years, is with a power purchase agreement.

Bayraktar estimated that the solar power auction facilitated investments worth a combined USD 400 million. The projected annual output is equivalent to the electricity needs of half a million households.

The minister pointed out that 8 GW of solar and wind power would come online this year in total. The combined capacity on the grid from the two technologies amounts to some 39 GW out of 121 GW overall.

Also of note, the Energy Storage Industries Association (EDEDER) has forecasted that 1.5 GWh of storage capacity would be commissioned next year in Turkey.

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Romania issues call for additional wind power auction for 290 MW

Wind farm project developers in Romania can bid by November 24 for state aid in the form of contracts for difference (CfDs). The call was issued for an additional auction, for 290 MW, after the regular round was completed with more than a third of the quota remaining unallocated.

The Ministry of Energy of Romania and transmission system operator Transelectrica formally launched their third auction today under the CfD state aid scheme for renewable energy. The additional round is only for wind power projects.

Only 1.26 GW was allocated of the available 2 GW in the second, regular auction. It was held within a EUR 3 billion renewable energy program under the European Union’s Modernisation Fund and Romania’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP or PNRR).

Aurora Energy Research has interpreted the lack of interest as an indication that developers may have seen more value outside the CfD framework: in power purchase agreements (PPAs) and merchant options. The firm recently said it expected strike prices near the EUR 80 per MWh ceiling.

Financial offers will be opened on December 2, the calendar shows

The maximum price is the same as the last time. Notably, the quota for the additional auction is just 290 MW. Developers have until November 24 to apply with projects of at least 5 MW each. In addition to the bid, they need to submit a technical offer proving eligibility.

Transelectrica, the CfD scheme operator, is due to open the technical offers on November 17. Financial offers of the qualified applicants will be opened on December 2, according to the schedule. The winners would need to sign their contracts for difference by December 18.

The CfDs are for a 15-year period. When the market price of electricity is lower than the price in the contract, the government pays the private operator the difference for the electricity that the beneficiary sells. When it’s the other way around, the producer returns the difference.

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Eurowind Energy’s solar power project in Romania gets CfD thanks to auction list dropouts

Eurowind Energy’s Ewe Solar Project in Romania, of 110 MW, is now eligible for government support in the form of a contract for difference (CfD), even though it landed just below the line in the last renewable energy auction. It got upgraded from the reserve list as the developer of two winning photovoltaic endeavors has decided to exclude some sections.

Depending on the policy framework and market conditions, renewable energy investors sometimes opt for power purchase agreements (PPAs) or the electricity exchange instead of locking in a fixed price for the long term in a government support scheme. Enery Element, which won CfDs in Romania’s last solar power auction, decided not to sign some of the contracts. It means Eurowind Energy, the first in the reserve list with its Ewe Solar Project, can now fill the quota instead of its competitor.

Enery Element has obtained the rights to the CfDs with two projects that it conveniently split into several sections each. It enabled it to withdraw only parts of the future photovoltaic plants.

Enery Element cancels three sections of 46 MW altogether

Enery Element pulled away two of the 11 lots that its subsidiary Baboia Solar Plant won for a facility in Ogrizeni in Giurgiu county.

They were the lowest strike prices in the entire auction: EUR 35.77 per MWh and EUR 36.33 per MWh. The proposed two sections, for a combined capacity of 25.9 MW, lowered the total to 324.2 MW.

According to an earlier update, the solar power plant would have 535 MW in peak capacity. The project firm also won a grant of EUR 6.1 million for a 121.9 MWh battery energy storage system.

Baboia Solar Plant, also known as Ogrizeni, would include a subsidized BESS of 121.9 MWh

Enery Element is a joint venture between Austrian renewable energy company Enery Development and its Bulgarian partner Element Power Group.

Conversely, with Siret Solar Plant, Enery Element canceled the part with the highest strike price of the four that were selected. The levels were from EUR 38.76 per MWh to EUR 38.79 per MWh.

It slashed the part of the capacity qualified for CfDs in the Dumbrava 2 project to 88.5 MW from 108.6 MW. The developer didn’t reveal the reason for its move.

Eurowind Energy lifts auction’s highest strike price to EUR 46 per MWh

The Ministry of Energy said it would replace the canceled capacity with Ewe Solar Project of 110 MW. It is a special purpose vehicle, working under Denmark-based Eurowind Energy.

The accepted price is EUR 46 per MWh, while the new lowest level on the list is EUR 36.69 per MWh, for a segment of the Baboia Solar Plant.

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Aurora: Romania’s third CfD auction is key for 2030 targets as solar outpaced wind

Aurora Energy Research expects strike prices at the additional renewable energy auction in Romania, for the remaining wind power quota, to land near the ceiling, set at EUR 80 per MWh. In the previous round, there was strong competition between the bidders for the photovoltaic segment, while developers of wind energy projects may have seen more value in PPAs and merchant options.

Increased costs and stricter eligibility rules constrained wind participation in Romania’s second contracts-for-difference (CfD) round in August, which fell short of the 2 GW wind target. Developers may have seen more value outside the CfD framework, according to Aurora experts, who stressed that power purchase agreements (PPAs) and merchant options offer higher returns than the capped CfD strike prices.

Solar projects showed stronger economics, with strike prices between EUR 35 per MWh and EUR 45 per MWh, compared to wind at EUR 65 per MWh to EUR 79.5 per MWh.

“Using the same commercial operation date for both PV and wind projects has disincentivised wind participation in CfD rounds, since wind developments are far more complex. Their permitting, grid connection, and EPC timelines are significantly longer than solar, making the uniform deadline misaligned with project realities,” said Project Leader at Research Associate at Aurora Energy Research Filippos Falieros.

Dedicated auctions can influence market dynamics

As wind is essential for achieving 2030 renewable targets, the Romanian Ministry of Energy invited developers to submit expressions of interest for mature wind projects only, with contracts expected to be signed by the end of 2025. The third auction will focus on wind energy solely, with a maximum strike price set at EUR 80 per MWh, and Aurora expects strike prices near the ceiling.

In the second auction, accepted wind power bids were between EUR 65 per MWh and EUR 79.5 per MWh

The move underscores the growing divergence in Romania between solar’s strong economics and wind’s slower progress, while also showing how policy adjustments – such as dedicated auctions – can influence market dynamics.

CfD state aid scheme was approved through Modernisation Fund

The overall CfD scheme is supported by EUR 3 billion in total state aid that the European Union approved through the Modernisation Fund, aiming to keep costs low for consumers.

Established in 2013, Aurora Energy Research provides power market forecasting and analytics for critical investment and financing decisions. Headquartered in Oxford, it operates out of 17 offices worldwide covering Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia.

The firm’s comprehensive services include market outlook packages for energy industry participants, advisory support, and software solutions. Aurora fosters diversity with a team of one thousand experts with backgrounds in energy, finance, and consulting, offering expertise across power, renewables, storage, hydrogen, carbon, and fossil commodities.

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Turkey launches solar, wind power auctions with November deadlines

The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey issued a public call for solar and wind power auctions for 2 GW in total. It will receive the applications on November 4 and November 18, respectively. One competitive bidding process is for a floating solar power project of 35 MW.

Following the successful auctions for renewable energy projects that were completed early this year, Turkey kicked off another round. It is also for 2 GW of overall connection capacity, in light of the country’s ambition to grow its combined solar and wind power capacity to 120 GW by 2035. The two technologies reached 37.1 GW together a month ago, out of 120.2 GW in total.

Auctions are held under the Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) state support mechanism. The scheme is better known by its Turkish acronym YEKA.

Ten solar power areas in eight provinces

The upcoming solar energy auctions, REZ SPP 2025 (YEKA GES 2025), are for 850 MW altogether. There are ten areas in eight provinces designated for bidding: Kahramanmaraş, Mardin and Van, with 40 MW each, Bolu and Elazığ (50 MW each), Erzurum 1-3 (100 MW, 150 MW and 85 MW), Eskişehir (260 MW) and Demirköprü in Manisa province, with 35 MW.

The upcoming solar power auctions will include Turkey’s first bidding for a floating photovoltaic plant

Notably, the last one is for a planned floating solar power plant on the reservoir of the Demirköprü hydropower plant. The facility on the Gediz river, east of Izmir, is owned by state-owned Electricity Generation Corp. (EÜAŞ). Turkey now hosts only two small floating photovoltaic units, and the auction will be the first of its kind.

Applications will be received on November 4, the ministry said and added it would subsequently publish a schedule for bidding.

Wind power capacity quota is 1.15 GW

Participants can apply on November 18 for the wind energy round of auctions, REZ WPP 2025 (YEKA RES 2025). It is for an overall 1.15 GW in six areas.

Investors will compete for 500 MW in Sivas province, a 140 MW project in Aydın and Denizli, 120 MW in Kütahya and three areas in Balıkesir – 160 MW, 120 MW and 110 MW.

Winners to submit guarantees of EUR 75,000 per MW for PV projects, EUR 100,000 per MW for wind

Potential bidders will pay a fee of EUR 1,550 for each auction they apply for. They must submit letters of guarantee lasting one year and worth EUR 15,000 per MW for photovoltaics and EUR 20,000 per MW for wind power. Winners will submit 10-year guarantees before signing their contracts: EUR 75,000 per MW and EUR 100,000 per MW, respectively.

The ceiling or starting price is EUR 55 per MWh and the floor prices are EUR 32.5 per MWh for solar power and EUR 35 per MWh for wind. If bids hit the floor, another auction will be held between the competitors, like in the previous round. It is for a so-called contribution share that they are ready to pay. The minimum is EUR 10,000 per MW of planned capacity and the highest bid wins.

Successful participants can sell electricity on the free market for five years in the case of solar power plants, while the period lasts six years for wind. After that, both categories enter a 20-year scheme with a guaranteed price.

Turkey tops 120 GW in total electricity capacity

At the end of July, electricity capacity in Turkey totaled 120.2 GW, the ministry revealed. Hydropower accounted for 26.9% or 32.3 GW, compared to 23.4 GW in photovoltaics (19.5%) and 13.7 GW of wind power, translating to 11.4%.

The share of biofuel and waste was 1.9%, with 2.34 GW, and geothermal power plants had 1.73 GW altogether, which is 1.4%. Gas power plants in Turkey had 24.7 GW in combined capacity (20.6%). The remainder is coal: 21.9 GW or 18.3%.

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Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala buys into renewables developer Rezolv Energy

Mubadala Investment Company, a sovereign investment fund from Abu Dhabi, is acquiring a stake in Rezolv Energy, a major renewable energy investor in Romania, which is developing the largest solar park in Europe.

Mubadala is setting up a joint venture with Rezolv Energy’s owner, sustainable infrastructure investment fund Actis, for joint control of the firm, whose ongoing projects in the country exceed 2 GW, according to a report by Profit.ro.

The Mubadala-Actis joint venture, which has received the green light from the European Commission, will be created through the purchase of shares and securities.

Mubadala, with assets under management of USD 300 billion as of the end of 2024, is wholly owned by the government of Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The transaction has been cleared by the European Commission

Rezolv Energy’s ongoing projects in Romania include the construction of a photovoltaic park with an installed capacity of 1,044 MW in Arad County, called Dama Solar. Once in operation, it is expected to be the largest solar park in Europe. The investment envisages a battery energy storage system (BESS) with 500 MW of operating power.

Rezolv Energy is developing the 1,044 MW Dama Solar project and over 1 GW of wind farms in Romania

Its portfolio in Romania also includes a 600 MW wind project in Constanța county and a 461 MW wind park in Buzău county. The company has already signed a grid connection agreement for the facility in Constanța.

The company won four contracts for difference (CfD), for a total capacity of 951.2 MW, in the first two auctions organized by the Romanian Ministry of Energy, according to Profit.ro.

Rezolv Energy was launched by Actis in 2022, with an initial investment of EUR 500 million. It is now active in Romania, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, and Slovakia, with a total portfolio of 2.5 GW of solar and wind projects.

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Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala buys into Romanian renewables developer Rezolv Energy

Mubadala Investment Company, a sovereign investment fund from Abu Dhabi, is acquiring a stake in Rezolv Energy, a major renewable energy investor in Romania, which is developing the largest solar park in Europe.

Mubadala is setting up a joint venture with Rezolv Energy’s owner, sustainable infrastructure investment fund Actis, for joint control of the Romanian firm, whose ongoing projects in the country exceed 2 GW, according to a report by Profit.ro.

The Mubadala-Actis joint venture, which has received the green light from the European Commission, will be created through the purchase of shares and securities.

Mubadala, with assets under management of USD 300 billion as of the end of 2024, is wholly owned by the government of Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The transaction has been cleared by the European Commission

Rezolv Energy’s ongoing projects in Romania include the construction of a photovoltaic park with an installed capacity of 1,044 MW in Arad County, called Dama Solar. Once in operation, it is expected to be the largest solar park in Europe. The investment envisages a battery energy storage system (BESS) with 500 MW of operating power.

Rezolv Energy is developing the 1,044 MW Dama Solar project and over 1 GW of wind farms in Romania

Its portfolio in Romania also includes a 600 MW wind project in Constanța county and a 461 MW wind park in Buzău county. The company has already signed a grid connection agreement for the facility in Constanța.

The company won four contracts for difference (CfD), for a total capacity of 951.2 MW, in the first two auctions organized by the Romanian Ministry of Energy, according to Profit.ro.

Rezolv Energy was launched by Actis in 2022, with an initial investment of EUR 500 million. It is now active in Romania, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, and Slovakia, with a total portfolio of 2.5 GW of solar and wind projects.

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North Macedonia’s draft law envisages renewable energy auctions for CfDs

North Macedonia drafted the Law on the Use of Energy from Renewable Sources to facilitate a decrease in fossil fuel consumption and a rise in the share of green energy. The legislation introduces market premiums under two-way contracts for difference (CfDs), which would be approved through renewable energy auctions. It also regulates net metering and net billing for prosumers and defines renewable energy communities.

The Ministry of Energy, Mining and Minerals of North Macedonia called on citizens, experts and stakeholders to submit opinions and proposals for the draft Law on the Use of Energy from Renewable Sources. It will regulate the segment separately for the first time, “following the example of a large number of countries in the region and the EU,” the statement adds.

The public debate lasts until August 30. According to the ministry, the most significant novelty is the two-way contract for difference (CfD). It is defined in Macedonian as contract for market settlement of the price difference. The bill envisages awarding such market premiums through renewable energy auctions.

It is a mechanism that guarantees financial stability for renewable energy producers and protects consumers from extreme price fluctuations, the ministry argued. The draft is fully aligned with the European Union’s energy legislation including the Renewable Energy Directive (RED3), the update adds.

Basis for renewables deployment in heating, cooling, transportation

The proposed measures aim to lower the use of fossil fuels and grow the share of renewables in gross energy consumption, the ministry added. They facilitate support for long-term investments and faster deployment of renewable energy in heating, cooling and transportation, it underscored.

Guarantees of origin of electricity are included in the bill, together with a framework for international cooperation and energy markets.

The draft establishes the basis for the establishment of renewable energy communities of citizens and companies and other legal entities such as local authorities. The scope also involves net metering and net billing for prosumers – “consumers-producers.”

Multiapartment structures can become prosumers with units up to 50 kW

While the ministry earlier said it would raise the upper capacity limit for prosumers in the segment of households to 10 kW, the ceiling in the draft law is 10.8 kW for individual homes and 50 kW for multiapartment structures. The draft also introduces the collective prosumer, a group of citizens and commercial entities residing in the same building or apartment complex.

Prosumers with units up to 16 kW would be in the net metering mechanism. Net billing is for 16 kW to 50 kW, and larger facilities are envisaged for a commercial supply scheme.

Notably, prosumers operating power plants of over 300 kW are obligated to cover the balancing expenses, the text reads.

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Romania completes second round of renewable energy auctions – third of wind quota unallocated

Companies that participated in the second round of auctions in Romania for contracts for difference (CfDs) for wind and solar power projects received the ranking list. The target quota for photovoltaics was slightly surpassed, with 1.49 GW approved. Conversely, only 1.26 GW was allocated in the wind project segment, against the available 2 GW. Average winning prices were EUR 40.35 per MWh and EUR 73.89 per MWh, respectively.

Winners include Rezolv Energy’s Dama Solar, which at 1.04 GW in total would currently be by far the largest PV system in Europe, excluding Turkey.

Romania’s Ministry of Energy and transmission system operator Transelectrica have conducted the country’s second wind and solar power auctions for government support in the form of CfDs. They imply fixed prices for beneficiaries for 15 years. If the producer sells its electricity in the market at a higher price, the government receives the difference. It works the other way around as well. The average winning price for wind power was EUR 73.89 per MWh, compared to EUR 40.35 per MWh for photovoltaics.

There was 2 GW available for wind power projects, but the authorities selected only 1.26 GW, within 23 qualified projects. It means their bids were lower than the ceiling of EUR 80 per MWh. Romanian media learned most of the details, while the official report is yet to be issued.

Rezolv, OX2, OMV Petrom, among winners in wind power segment

In the wind power auction, the participants secured less than two thirds of the quota. There are 23 projects of 21 companies on the list, with 1.26 GW accepted overall of the available 2 GW.

Midmar Callatis passed with the lowest bid, EUR 65.17 per MWh, for the Dunărea East project in Constanța county. The entity, controlled by Rezolv Energy, is eligible for a CfD for 211.2 MW. It is the largest proposed capacity that participated in the auction. The Dunărea East and West project is for 600 MW altogether.

The firm signed the grid connection contract last year. It expects to complete the wind park in 2030, to meet the deadline, like almost all other auction winners in both segments.

OX2 has split its project and won three contracts

The second winner by size is the Cerchezu wind power project. The owner, OX2, has split it into chunks, so 128 MW, 25.6 MW and 25.6 MW earned entry into the market incentives scheme. The special purpose vehicle (SPV), called South Wind, has bid EUR 69.87 per MWh, EUR 74.5 per MWh and EUR 76.5 per MWh, respectively, for a combined capacity of 179.2 MW.

Coming in third in terms of selected capacity, with 111.6 MW, is the future Poiana wind power project. The developer is Green Labs, which operates under Electrocentrale Borzești, part of the Renovatio group, under OMV Petrom.

Through its project firm CEF Pelicanu, Renovatio also won a CfD for 103.7 MW for its Alexandru Odobescu project. It bid EUR 76.9 per MWh.

Winning prices in second wind power auction higher amid demand drop

Ecoener Carpatica’s Miroslovești project in Iași county can sign a contract for 54.4 MW, at a price of EUR 68.75 per MWh. The Urleasca project passed with EUR 71.93 per MWh for 31 MW.

Eurowind Energy’s Cheap Energy Company was successful with a bid of EUR 78.5 per MWh for the Pecineaga Northeast (Nord Est or NordEst) endeavor. It applied for 48 MW.

Engie Romania passed with its Falcon wind power project

Falcon Wind of Engie Romania secured a CfD for 52.4 MW with a price of EUR 72.7 per MWh. It was the first under the line in the first round, with a bid that was EUR 5 higher. The location is in Mereni in Constanța county.

The accepted prices in the wind power auction are between EUR 65.17 per MWh and EUR 79.5 per MWh, compared to a range of EUR 54.59 per MWh to EUR 77.33 per MWh in the first round.

Accepted bids for solar power projects significantly lower than in first round

Conversely, solar power prices were much lower than last time. They landed at EUR 35.77 per MWh to EUR 45.2 per MWh, against a range of EUR 45.05 per MWh to EUR 54.19 per MWh in December. This time, the ceiling was EUR 73 per MWh. The commission accepted 26 bids of 1.49 GW in total, extending the quota by 16 MW.

The largest capacity, 520 MW, was awarded to special purpose vehicle West Power Investments for its Dama Solar project. It is for 1.04 GW in total peak capacity, which would make it the biggest solar power plant in Europe excluding Turkey. Rezolv Energy developed the project, together with Monsson. It won the incentives through two equal lots, with bids of EUR 42.2 per MWh each, on a rounded basis.

Enery Element gets almost 460 MW for its two PV projects

Other companies also partitioned their projects for the auction. Enery Element won 11 out of the 26 contracts, for its proposed Baboia PV plant, also called Ogrezeni. The bids were between EUR 35.77 per MWh and EUR 42 per MWh.

In the previous round, it failed to make the quota with EUR 56.82 per MWh. The combined capacity is 350.1 MW. According to Economica.net, the developer may have opted for splitting the PV plant to avoid surpassing the 50-hectare threshold per lot. The Ogrezeni project in Giurgiu county is for more than 500 MW overall, the media outlet noted.

The company also succeeded with four lots of its Dumbrava 2 project. Enery Element’s subsidiary Siret Solar Plant has bid EUR 38.76 per MWh to EUR 38.79 per MWh. The combined capacity is 108.6 MW.

Engie Romania is now eligible for a CfD for 170 MW in peak capacity, for its proposed Cornățelu photovoltaic facility. Its bid was the highest on the list, EUR 45.2 per MWh. The site is in Dâmbovița county

Of note, the government has so far signed contracts with 21 firms that won in the first solar and wind power auctions.

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WindEurope urges Germany to drop negative bidding in wind auctions, switch to CfDs

Germany’s second offshore wind auction in 2025 failed to attract bids from developers, sending a clear signal that the country’s wind auction design, which relies on negative bidding, is not fit for purpose, WindEurope has warned. Instead of swimming against the tide, Germany should follow in the footsteps of other European countries and switch to contracts for difference (CfDs), according to the European wind industry association.

The auction covered two offshore wind sites in the North Sea with a combined capacity of 2.5 GW, but no developer placed a bid. That should be a wake-up call for the German government, according to Viktoriya Kerelska, Director of Advocacy & Messaging at WindEurope.

In negative bidding, developers offer the amount of money they are willing to pay for the right to build a wind farm, with the highest bid most likely to win. In the CfD model, on the other hand, they bid the electricity price they need, and receive compensation from the government if the market price falls below that level.

Kerelska: Negative bidding reduces the number of companies willing to participate in auctions

Negative bidding does not offer any revenue stabilization and exposes bidders to risks that go beyond their control. The uncapped negative bidding further intensifies the financial pressure on offshore wind developers by asking them to pay high sums for the right to develop an offshore wind farm, according to WindEurope.

“Negative bidding adds costs that make offshore wind more expensive and reduces the number of companies willing and able to participate in auctions,” Kerelska stated, adding it is time to amend the auction model so Germany can deliver on its offshore wind targets and industrial competitiveness.

Wind energy provides 30% of all electricity consumed in Germany, making it crucial for ensuring competitive prices for households and industry as well as energy security, WindEurope noted.

CfDs ensure lower financing costs and more predictable revenues

Most countries in Europe have introduced two-sided CfDs as a revenue stabilization mechanism for offshore wind development. It ensures lower financing costs and more visibility on future revenues, WindEurope said, noting that Denmark was the latest country to switch to CfDs after its 3 GW negative bidding offshore wind tender failed to attract any bids last December.