Transelectrica ramps up grid modernisation with EU funding

Transelectrica, the Romanian national electricity transmission operator, is implementing one of the largest EU‑funded investment programmes in the country’s power sector. By the end of Q1 2026 the company had several projects underway financed through the EU Modernisation Fund, REPowerEU, the Sustainable Development Programme and the Connecting Europe Facility, amounting to hundreds of millions of euros.

The programme covers 11 strategic projects, including the “Axul Banat” corridor, new 400 kV transmission lines, and the digitalisation of substations into smart‑grid units. A key line, Gutinaș‑Smârdan, is being built with over €238 million lei in EU funds to transport renewable energy from Dobrogea to Moldavia and other regions.

Transelectrica also benefits from more than €56 million under REPowerEU for photovoltaic installations, energy‑storage systems, IT infrastructure and a new data centre. The operator participates in the Horizon‑Europe “TwinEU” project developing a digital‑twin of Europe’s power grid and runs AI‑driven initiatives called ORIGIN and GENESIS aimed at improving system efficiency and resilience. Additionally, it is a partner in the CARMEN project, €207 million in total (€104 million EU‑funded), targeting grid modernisation and digitalisation in Romania and Bulgaria.

These investments are intended to increase transmission capacity, integrate renewable generation and strengthen regional energy security.