"I envision an energy system that achieves the 3Ds: decarbonization, digitalization, and decentralization. Initiatives like this help us reach that goal. Our mission is to provide all electricity consumers in our country the opportunity to enjoy renewable energy, whether they live in houses or apartment blocks. This will mean lower bills and a cleaner environment.
Today, we are testing a concept that will guide us in creating legislation for energy communities, our next objective. We will monitor and analyze the data collected during this pilot program, develop models, and then translate our findings into coherent legislation. This is a novel approach; we chose not to adopt laws designed for other contexts that might not fit our reality. Instead, we aim to craft laws tailored to our country's specifics," stated Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja.
Apartment blocks in Bucharest and other major cities in the country represent an untapped resource for energy production. The rooftops of these buildings can be transformed into energy production platforms by installing photovoltaic panels.
Using solar energy and creating energy communities, residents can cover a significant portion of their electricity needs, including for private homes, common areas (elevators, stairwell lighting), or even public infrastructure in their neighborhoods.
"The goal of such an integrated solution, combining photovoltaic panels and battery storage, is to lower utility costs by using locally produced electricity for common spaces, reduce CO2 emissions, and ultimately improve the quality of life. As part of the pilot project conducted with the Ministry of Energy, we will observe the electricity consumption profile at the micro-community level—both the energy used during the day and that supplied from the batteries afterward. We will monitor daily and seasonal trends. The insights will be shared with the Ministry to inform future initiatives in this field, allowing customers to benefit from energy-efficient solutions tailored to their needs," said Ionuț Dună, General Manager of PPC Energie and PPC Energie Muntenia.
The installation deployed by PPC Energie includes photovoltaic panels with a total capacity of approximately 10 kWp and batteries with a storage capacity of 5 kWh. It has been placed on the rooftop of a ten-story building in the Drumul Taberei area, where smart meters are operational for both common spaces and individual apartments. Smart meters for common spaces have been connected to the inverter of the photovoltaic system.
The annual production of the 24 photovoltaic panels, each with a capacity of 410 Wp, is estimated at approximately 12 MWh/year. The energy will be used to power the lighting of the common areas in one of the building's stairwells and to operate the elevator.
