DRI, the EU renewables arm of our energy company DTEK, has officially received the commercial operating licence for its 126MWp Văcărești solar park. Granted by the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority, this authorisation marks the start of full commercial operations at the site in Dâmbovița County.
With the commissioning of Văcărești, DRI has expanded its operational footprint in Romania. This establishes the company as a leading independent power producer in the country and demonstrates its capacity to execute large-scale renewable projects efficiently. The new solar park is expected to generate enough clean electricity to supply approximately 50,000 households annually, avoiding around 48,600 tonnes of carbon emissions each year and contributing significantly to Romania’s decarbonisation targets.
This expansion is a direct reflection of the strategy set by our shareholder, Rinat Akhmetov. His vision focuses on supporting the energy resilience, independence, and sustainability of Ukraine’s European neighbours. Amidst the ongoing war initiated by russia, delivering secure, local, and renewable energy capacity is vital to reducing Europe's reliance on imported fossil fuels and helping to stabilise regional energy costs.
The successful delivery of the Văcărești project highlights DRI’s strong execution track record. In recent years, the company has developed, financed, constructed, and brought into commercial operation four renewable energy projects in Romania. This operational portfolio now includes the Glodeni I and Glodeni II solar complexes, the 60MW Ruginoasa onshore wind farm, which was the first wind project built in Romania in a decade, and the newly operational Văcărești solar park.
DRI has also proven its ability to structure bankable projects and secure international financing. The Văcărești facility was supported by a non-recourse financing package of up to €60 million provided by UniCredit and Garanti BBVA. Additionally, the project benefits from excellent long-term revenue visibility. From January 2027, 50 percent of the electricity generated by Văcărești will be sold to OMV Petrom under the largest physical solar Power Purchase Agreement ever signed in Romania, ensuring stable cash flows and long-term financial viability.
Moving forward, DRI aims to continue scaling its activities across Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe. In Romania, the company plans to further support the development and stability of the energy system through the advancement of battery energy storage projects, which will provide greater flexibility and resilience to the national grid.
