Transelectrica prepares transmission grid development plan for 2026 to 2035

Romania's national transmission system operator, Transelectrica, is seeking shareholder approval on November 9 for its main network development framework spanning 2026 through 2035. Detailed in an annex to the official planning document, the transmission grid strategy sets out a comprehensive capital works pipeline comprising 117 individual projects. While financial allocations for specific schemes remain undisclosed, the formal adoption of this strategic roadmap marks a decisive step in aligning national electricity infrastructure with regional decarbonisation goals and security of supply mandates.

Network modernisation and structural challenges

Transmission system operators across South-Eastern Europe face substantial pressure to modernise ageing substations and expand high-voltage corridors. For Romania, integrating renewable energy generation from both onshore regions and coastal areas requires extensive transformer additions, switchgear upgrades, and busbar reconfigurations. A structured multi-year investment pipeline covering 2026 to 2035 allows grid planners to phase complex refurbishment works while managing local supply risks. However, opaque financial commitments highlight broader regional procurement hurdles, where capital allocation clarity is essential to secure manufacturing slots for long-lead transmission plant.

Implications for equipment supply chains

The execution of 117 distinct network schemes over the coming decade will place heavy demand on the regional high-voltage supply chain. Power transformer lead times across European markets currently extend to multiple years due to global backlogs in grain-oriented electrical steel and specialised insulation materials. Detailed grid plans provide equipment vendors and engineering contractors with crucial visibility, enabling better forecasting for primary switchgear, instrument transformers, and automated protection assets needed for high-voltage substations.

What this means for asset owners in the Balkans and the Black Sea region: For substation asset managers and industrial energy users in Romania, the approval slated for November 9 provides a clear timeline for upcoming grid outages and connection bottlenecks between 2026 and 2035. Facilities planning new transformer installations or interconnections should anticipate prolonged outage windows during major refurbishment of transmission substations across the national grid. Early engagement on technical specifications and equipment lead times will prove crucial to avoid project delays during the rollout of these 117 planned network investments.