CWP Europe has reached commercial operation at its 174 MWdc Studina solar facility in Romania, marking the country’s largest operational solar plant to date. The project, utilizing advanced bifacial modules and single-axis trackers, is expected to generate around 245,000 MWh of clean electricity annually, powering over 122,500 households and offsetting approximately 220,500 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year. Delivered in partnership with Siemens Energy, Solarpro, and Eximprod, the battery-ready site underscores accelerating renewable energy deployment in Southeast Europe amid Romania’s push for energy transition and grid modernization.
Studina Solar Project Goes Live as Romania’s Premier Utility-Scale Solar Asset
CWP Europe has successfully brought online the Studina solar project, a 174 MWdc installation that now stands as Romania’s largest operational solar facility. Located in Olt County, southwest of Bucharest—an area benefiting from some of the highest solar irradiation levels in the country—the project achieved its commercial operation date recently, transitioning from development and construction phases to full-scale electricity generation.
The facility employs high-efficiency bifacial photovoltaic modules mounted on single-axis trackers, a configuration designed to maximize energy capture throughout the day by following the sun’s path and utilizing reflected light from the ground surface. String inverters further enhance performance through granular monitoring and maintenance efficiency, while smart grid control systems and string-level analytics optimize output, particularly during shoulder hours to better align with demand patterns.
A key forward-looking feature is the substation’s battery-ready design, which includes reserved space and transformer capacity for a potential 2- to 4-hour energy storage system. This preparedness allows future integration of battery energy storage to shift excess midday production to evening peak periods, provide ancillary grid services, and reduce balancing costs in an evolving electricity market that increasingly values dispatchable renewables.
The project’s annual generation is projected at approximately 245,000 MWh of renewable electricity. This output is sufficient to meet the annual consumption needs of more than 122,500 Romanian households, based on typical household usage benchmarks. Environmentally, the facility is anticipated to avoid around 220,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year, contributing meaningfully to national and EU decarbonization targets under the broader energy transition framework.
CWP Europe acquired the Studina project in 2023, with initial expectations for commercial operation by the end of 2024. The accelerated timeline to early 2026 reflects efficient execution amid supportive regulatory conditions and strong partnerships. Collaboration with Siemens Energy for key electrical infrastructure, Solarpro as a leading EPC contractor in the region, and Eximprod for specialized components played pivotal roles in delivering the asset on schedule and to high technical standards.
This commissioning bolsters CWP Europe’s footprint in Southeast Europe, where the developer is actively pursuing a pipeline of solar, wind, and hybrid projects to support regional energy security and sustainability goals. Romania’s solar sector has seen rapid momentum, driven by favorable irradiation, improving grid infrastructure, and policy incentives aimed at diversifying away from coal-heavy generation.
The Studina project surpasses previous benchmarks, such as the 155 MW Rătești facility, to claim the top spot among operational solar parks in Romania. While larger projects are under construction or in advanced planning—including some exceeding 200 MW—the Studina plant represents a critical milestone in scaling utility-grade solar deployment within the country.
Economically, initiatives like Studina generate local benefits through job creation during construction and ongoing operations, increased tax revenues for regional authorities, and enhanced energy independence. The combination of power purchase agreements and merchant market exposure positions the asset to capitalize on Romania’s evolving electricity pricing dynamics.
As Europe intensifies efforts to meet ambitious renewable targets, projects of this scale demonstrate the viability of large-format solar in emerging markets. The battery-ready infrastructure at Studina positions it advantageously for future enhancements that could further improve grid stability and revenue potential in a system increasingly reliant on variable renewables.
Key Project Specifications
Capacity: 174 MWdc
Location: Olt County, Romania
Technology: Bifacial modules on single-axis trackers with string inverters
Annual Generation: ~245,000 MWh
Household Equivalent: >122,500 homes
CO₂ Avoidance: ~220,500 tonnes per year
Key Partners: Siemens Energy, Solarpro, Eximprod
## Future-Ready: Battery storage provisioned for 2–4 hour system integration