ROMANIA - AN INTEGRATED PART OF THE EUROPEAN ENERGY TRANSITION PROCESS.

In the period 2010-2022, Romania has seen a continuous increase in the share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption, promoting and using green energy sources. In 2019, more than 24% of energy consumption came from renewable energy, ranking 10th in the EU, surpassing the European average, and by 2030, Romania aims to reach a share of 49.4% renewable energy in gross final consumption of electricity. In this perspective, climate change is the most discussed topic, and from the analysis of CO2 emissions for the same period, a decreasing trend can be observed, signalling a positive impact on the environment. The intensity of greenhouse gas emissions, as measured by the amount of gases emitted per unit of GDP, is decreasing, indicating increased economic efficiency. It is essential for the sustainable development of Romania to invest in the development of the energy sector, the main issue will be to identify the best ways to align the state with the EU directives and to become climate neutral by 2050, being a goal assumed by the EU and its states when signing the Paris Agreement in 2015. This paper contributes to this field by providing information on Romania's evolving landscape by harnessing multiple sources of renewable energy and at the same time, the financial opportunities granted by the state to key actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]