EU Cohesion policy: €216 million to modernise Bucharest’s thermal energy transmission system

The Commission has approved an investment of €216 million from the Cohesion Fund to modernise the thermal energy transmission system of Bucharest, the capital of Romania. Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, commented: “This EU investment in the modernisation of a key infrastructure for the capital of Romania is a good example of a project that can achieve simultaneously the goal of improving citizens’ daily lives and reaching the Green Deal and climate change targets.” The city’s thermal energy transmission system is one of the largest in the world, supplying over 1.2 million people with heat and hot water. 211.94 km of pipes, which is equivalent to 105.97 km of transmission system, will be replaced to remedy the current problem of the loss of around 28% of the heat between the source and the consumer. Moreover, a new leak-detection system will be installed. The project will ensure a sustainable and affordable thermal energy transmission system increasing the energy efficiency of the network for a better quality of life of inhabitants and better air quality thanks to a substantial reduction of gas to be burnt. This will contribute to the country’s goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions in line with the European Green Deal. More details on EU funded investments in Romania are available on the Open Data Platform.