Romanian energy group Electrica to build hydrogen-ready cogeneration plant in Craiova

25 August 2026 Romanian energy group Electrica signed on Monday, August 24, a contract to develop a new high-efficiency cogeneration plant in Craiova, designed to supply both the city’s district heating system and the national electricity grid. The natural gas-fired facility will be hydrogen-ready and capable of restarting independently during a power outage. The plant will have an installed electrical capacity of approximately 82 MW and a thermal capacity of around 179 Gcal per hour, equivalent to roughly 208 MWt. Its cogeneration units will be supplemented by installations providing peak and backup heat production. The thermal energy will supply Craiova’s centralized heating system, which currently serves approximately 53,000 homes and public institutions. The new plant will replace an e