Prosumers now rank second in Romania by installed energy capacity, with investments in these facilities exceeding 2,2 billion euro, according to the Association of Prosumers and Energy Communities (APCE) data published on Monday.

'Officially, prosumers in Romania collectively represent the country's second-largest intermittent energy producer, with the second-highest installed capacity. Based on Romania's solar conditions, their installed capacity generates around 4,42 TWh of energy annually. This energy helps keep bills under control for hundreds of thousands of households and businesses. Romania is the only country in Europe where prosumers are paid two years after production. Despite producing 10 percent of the country's energy and supplying local communities, the current legislation favours suppliers, allowing them to delay payments to prosumers for up to 24 months. (...) In total, prosumers have invested around 2,2 billion euro from their own resources or bank loans to produce their energy. This is likely one of the largest private financial mobilisations in Romania's energy sector. Thing tells a simple story: when a clear and accessible solution exists, Romanians act,' APCE President Dan Pirsan said in a press release sent to AGERPRES.

According to the quoted source, prosumers reduce imports, stabilise local grids and create a clear advantage for the energy system through distributed production at hundreds of thousands of points, without major transport costs, wear or technical losses.

The relevant association underscores that Romania is approaching 305,000 prosumers, with exponential growth in the past years, and estimates for this year anticipate surpassing the 400,000 mark.

'Behind these numbers are not just investments, but people who have decided to take back control over an essential cost in their lives: energy. This development is already beginning to reshape the energy market. Even with the sudden cancellation of the 'Casa Verde 2025' [Green House] programme, Romanians did not stop. In just two winter months - December 2025 and January 2026 - the number of prosumers increased by 15,000. This is clear evidence that the desire for energy independence did not rely solely on the state support. Estimates indicate that by the end of 2026, Romania will surpass 400,000 prosumers. This is no longer a trend. It is a new reality: 'prosumerism' has become the fastest and most accessible solution for reducing energy costs in a context where prices have only one direction: upwards. Installing a photovoltaic system is straightforward and energy production can begin in just days or weeks. Across Europe, millions of citizens have already taken this step. The current geopolitical context only accelerates this transformation in Romania, where a vast resource is available for free: the Sun,' Pirsan explained.

Another important signal highlighted by the APCE relates to energy storage. In this context, the data show that prosumers have installed over 800 MW in batteries, surpassing Romania's current usable capacity, 'which has barely reached 600 MW.'

'Basically, prosumers directly contribute to the stability of the energy system (...) This is how households and private companies push Romania forward, regardless of whether politicians place obstacles or administrative barriers. The question is no longer whether this phenomenon will continue. The question is whether the authorities will manage to keep pace with the citizens or fall behind a reality developing faster than their capacity to respond,' the expert pointed out. AGERPRES (RO - editing by: Daniel Badea; EN - writing by: Rodica State)