The law that regulates investment in offshore wind energy projects will enter into force on May 30, after the bill was promulgated by the president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, the Ministry of Energy announced on April 30.

However, the key details, including the royalties, will be set and approved by the government by mid-2025.

“Romania is the first country on the Black Sea with a regulatory framework for offshore wind energy,” according to a ministry’s press release.

"The implementation of electricity generation projects from offshore wind resources shall be carried out in compliance with the principle of non-discrimination, in conditions of fair competition, and in compliance with the principle of integrated pollution prevention and control through the use of the best available techniques for activities with significant environmental impact," the law provides.

According to it, in offshore wind energy production, the Ministry of Energy has the following powers: It carries out expert studies on the basis of which it establishes the offshore perimeters that can be offered for concession and identifies the basic technical information related to the perimetres in question, which is made available to economic operators interested in participating in the competitive tendering procedure, establishes the offshore perimetres that can be concessioned for the exploration of the perimetres and the construction and operation of offshore wind power plants in compliance with the prohibited areas.

The Ministry of Energy concludes the concession contract, receives and manages the data and information on offshore wind resources communicated by the concessionaires, ensuring the storage, systematisation and and their exploitation, draws the model concession framework contract, which includes the rights and obligations of the parties, draws up the state aid scheme, and as granting authority it monitors and controls the concessionaire's compliance with the provisions of the concession contract.

The Romanian officials expect the first such project to begin electricity delivery to the national power grid in 2032. To regulate the investment projects in offshore wind projects, the ministry will compile a study to define procedures for the concession, exploration, construction, and exploitation activities of offshore wind power plants.

Also, based on the study, by March 31, 2025, the government will approve the offshore wind perimeters, and by June 30, 2025, the subsequent law enforcement acts, after which the Ministry of Energy will initiate a competitive procedure for awarding concession contracts.

Until June 30, 2025, the government will also set and enact, based on the results of the study, the size of the royalty that the concessionaires will pay to the Romanian state.