NEPI Rockcastle inaugurates Romania’s largest solar power facility

NEPI Rockcastle, the largest owner and operator of shopping centres across Central and Eastern Europe, has inaugurated Romania’s largest photovoltaic plant, as part of a €100 million investment programme in renewables.

The Chișineu-Criș plant will supply more than 70,000 MWh of renewable electricity a year, enough to power approximately 29,300 homes.

NEPI Rockcastle’s full programme of renewable energy facilities will account for 45 percent of its total energy consumption once completed, making the company the largest renewable energy producer in retail real estate across Central and Eastern Europe.

“We decided at the height of the energy crisis in 2022 to invest in our renewable energy production programme, an initiative that has proved to be a remarkable commercial and sustainability success story,” commented Marek Noetzel, COO at NEPI Rockcastle.

“We also do the heavy lifting for our retailers in helping them achieve their climate goals at the same time. NEPI Rockcastle’s renewable electricity programme is advancing through three major stages, reflecting our long-term commitment to sustainability and decarbonisation.”

The Chișineu-Criș facility, which will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 21,100 tonnes annually, adds to NEPI Rockcastle’s existing network of solar installations on rooftops and parking facilities.

The company plans to develop a second photovoltaic site in Romania’s Prahova region, construction of which will commence early next year. Once onstream, this will bring the group’s combined generation capacity to about 212 megawatts.

“NEPI Rockcastle’s priority is to support investments that accelerate the company’s financial, sustainability and operational performance,” Noetzel added. “Developing greenfield photovoltaic power plants in Romania are strategic investments that bring cost efficiency and optimisation, strengthening the foundation on which NEPI Rockcastle’s future growth is built. The Chișineu-Criș project demonstrates how financial discipline and sustainability can create shared long-term value.”