Over 90% of the photovoltaic panels in Romania come from China / Should we worry about this?

Almost all the photovoltaic panels installed in Romania – and at a global level, otherwise – come from China, shows the data of the International Energy Agency (AIE). Is this one that should worry us? The opinions of the specialists are divided. On the one hand, Aei warns that addiction to a single source of origin could be risky. Other voices say, however, that as long as the equipment works well and have decent prices, we have no reason to fear.

The production of energy from renewable sources already knows a boom and will expand in the next five years worldwide, especially solar energy, which will triple, according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

However, the experts of the Agency warn that addiction to China, which deliver over 90% of solar panels, could be risky and urgent need for new production factories in other areas of the world.

Specifically, the share was 97% last year, and the agency specialists estimate that it will be kept at 80-95% in the future. This although in the states forget and in India, consistent subsidies were given for the construction of panel factories.

“The role of China in solar energy and renewable energy, in general, is very important. First, China is a country with large emissions and it is important that photovoltaic panels are installed,” said Fatih Biros, IEA executive director.

“Second, the fact that it produces a large amount of renewable energy technology means reducing costs for the entire planet.

On the other hand, for security reasons, diversification is needed. This is the correct word: diversification. The dependence on a technology, a single country and a single route could be risky, ”added Biros.

Therefore, it is necessary to build several factories in Europe and the US. The panels produced here, even if they will be more expensive than those in China, will improve the safety in the supply, he believes.

The installed capacity of prosumers in Romania exceeds three reactors from Cernavoda

In Romania, the official data of the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) shows that there are currently over 208,000 prosumers who have mounted photovoltaic panels to produce their own energy for their own consumption. Their installed capacity totals 2,500 MW, more than three times more than a nuclear reactor from Cernavoda, which has 700 MW.

At the same time, according to INS, imports of photovoltaic panels from China totaled 78.3 million euros in 2024.

The photovoltaic panels are like a two -edged sword, the Minister of the Environment, Mircea Fechet, believes. They produce clean energy and reduce the invoices, but at the same time it unbalances the commercial balance of Romania, because the money goes directly to China ”, he said, in a conference, at the end of February.

Another problem that Fechet sees is that some technologies produced in China do not allow further installation of additional equipment, such as storage batteries, from another brand.

“Some prosumers are captive for a certain technology, a certain brand. They have taken inverters compatible with a certain battery brand, so did those who installed their photovoltaic system, and now they have been forced to buy a certain type of batteries, compatible with that technology,” said the Minister of the Environment.

We buy China devices because they are cheaper

On the other hand, Dan Pîrșan, the president of the Association of Swingers and Energy Communities in Romania, does not believe that China addiction can be risky in this sector.

• “This fact does not raise major problems, given that the technology is well known and accessible globally. The production of photovoltaic panels does not involve rare materials or extremely sophisticated technological processes, which means that they can be manufactured anywhere in the world, if there is will and infrastructure.
• The situation is similar to other industries: many of our electronic devices, workshops or home appliances are produced in China, not due to the lack of know-how in other countries, but due to the optimization of costs and efficiency of the production chains, ”he told HotNews.ro.

In his opinion, in terms of the opportunity to develop a local production in Europe or other regions, the cost-benefit ratio must be realistically analyzed.

“As long as China delivers products in accordance with quality, quantity and price requirements, direct competition can be difficult to support. However, a diversification of production sources could be beneficial, but only if Europe or US comes with a clear plus – technologically or through coherent economic policies.
In conclusion, the idea of ​​a national producer of photovoltaic panels is attractive and possible, but it becomes necessary only in the context of major economic or political changes. With the resources and technology available, such a production unit could be operational in just a few months, if the demand imposes it. ”

ANRE President: We have Chinese panels for over 10 years in Romania and it works well

For his part, George Niculescu, president of the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) recently stated, in an interview for HotNews.ro, that as long as the panels work optimally, there is no concern.

“This does not happen yesterday, today. In the first wave of renewable that Romania registered in the period 2010-2014, against the background of the support scheme with green certificates, if you remember, I had a boom in the energy production part from renewable sources.

• On the photovoltaic side, in the first wave of renewable I can tell you that, from the information I have, over 80-90% of the photovoltaic panels were from China. Let's look at what happened. 10 years have passed since then: was Romania vulnerable from any point of view, has something happened with the respective panels? Not to understand that I am the lobbist of China.
• In Romania there is an electricity production from photovoltaic sources for over 10 years. There are Chinese panels mounted 12, 13, 14, which work now. It is best to take the information from those who use them and those who exploit such technology, tell us what problems they have encountered over time with photovoltaic panels and in the inverters of China ”.

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