Transport accounts for 17% of total emissions and is growing faster than any other sector, now 52% above 1990 levels.3 There is currently no emissions reduction target specifically for the transport sector.
In 2019, the share of electricity in the transport sector’s final energy demand was roughly 1%, meaning that any efforts to decarbonise the sector will involve greatly increasing this share. 1.5°C compatible scenarios show that by 2030 electricity would need to have a 10-29% share in transport sector final energy demand, increasing to 33-72% by 2050.
In scenarios that show a lower penetration of renewables in the transport sector, this is offset by a higher penetration of hydrogen or biofuels. If these options are indeed prioritised, it would require significant scaling up of capacity.
In its NECP, the government states that it will encourage rail transport over road transport. Additionally, it intends to increase the share of renewables in the transport sector to 14.2% by 2030.3 For renewables to penetrate the transport sector, public charging infrastructure will need to be rolled out comprehensively. Romania currently ranks in the bottom five countries in the EU regarding EV charging points per 100 km, reflecting the fact that the government is still some way off achieving its stated targets.6
1 European Commission. Assessment of the final national energy and climate plan of Romania. 2020.
2 Government of Romania. National Energy and Climate Plan – Romania. 2020.
3 European Environment Agency. EEA greenhouse gases – data viewer. 2021.
4 International Energy Agency. IEA world energy balances, 2020. 2020.
5 European Environment Agency. Share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption. 2021.
6 European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association. Making the transition to zero-emission mobility: 2021 progress report. 2021.
7 Bankwatch Network. The Romanian renewable energy sector: a potential still untapped. 2020.
8 Romanian Government. National long-term renovation strategy. 2020.
9 Ministry of Public Works Development and Administration. Romanian national long-term renovation strategy: key elements. 2020.
10 Petre, G. Romania might become one of Europe’s biggest hydrogen hubs: investments of over 1,6 bn euros are in early stages of development. CEEnergy News. 2021.
11 Global Gas Plant Tracker, last updated August 2022, by Global Energy Monitor can be found here.
Romaniaʼs energy mix in the transport sector
petajoule per year
- Natural gas
- Coal
- Oil and e-fuels
- Biomass
- Biogas
- Biofuel
- Electricity
- Heat
- Hydrogen
Romaniaʼs transport sector direct CO₂ emissions (of energy demand)
MtCO₂/yr
- Historical emissions
- High energy demand - Low CDR reliance
- SSP1 Low CDR reliance
- SSP1 High CDR reliance
- Low energy demand
1.5°C compatible transport sector benchmarks
Direct CO₂ emissions and shares of electricity, biofuels and hydrogen in the transport final energy demand from illustrative 1.5°C pathways for Romania
Indicator | 2019 | 2030 | 2040 | 2050 | Decarbonised transport sector by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Direct CO₂ emissions MtCO₂/yr | 19 | 3 to 9 | 1 to 4 | 1 | 2051 |
Relative to reference year in % | −85 to −51% | −94 to −80% | −96% |
Indicator | 2019 | 2030 | 2040 | 2050 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Share of electricity Percent | 1 | 10 to 29 | 22 to 60 | 33 to 72 |
Share of biofuels Percent | 6 | 16 to 22 | 21 to 40 | 16 to 56 |
Share of hydrogen Percent | 0 | 3 to 9 | 8 to 41 | 20 to 49 |