The National Electricity Transmission Company Transelectrica, Romania's national transmission and system operator, signed, on Friday, May 22, 2026, as a partner, the financing contract for the CARMEN „Smart Grid” Project, with a total value of approximately 207 million euros, alongside the project initiator Delgaz Grid SA, the electricity and natural gas distribution company, part of the E.ON Romania group, and ESO, the energy transmission operator from Bulgaria, as a partner.
The contract was signed with the representatives of the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency, in the presence of high-level participants from the European Commission.
Of the project's total value of approximately 207 million euros, European funding accounts for approximately 104 million euros, secured through the European Commission's „Connecting Europe Facility” program, dedicated to Projects of Common Interest, with the difference to be covered by the three partners from their own funds.
Of the total project value, the component for Delgaz Grid amounts to 77.5 million euros, of which almost 39 million euros represent non-reimbursable European funds. The component for Transelectrica amounts to 70.7 million euros, of which almost 35.4 million euros represent non-reimbursable European funds, and the component for ESO is 59.3 million euros, of which 29.6 million euros are non-reimbursable funds.
The signing ceremony for the Financing Agreement took place in Denmark, in Copenhagen, on the sidelines of the 12th edition of the Energy Infrastructure Forum held on May 21-22, one of the most important European events dedicated to energy infrastructure. This moment holds particular significance, marking European-level recognition of the Project's strategic importance for the region's energy future.
The event took place in the presence of Dan Jannik Jørgensen, the European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, alongside representatives from partner companies in Romania and Bulgaria: Volker Raffel, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Delgaz Grid, Daniela Mocanu, Director of European Affairs at Transelectrica, and Kiril Georgiev, CEO of ESO Bulgaria.
„CARMEN is the first Project of Common Interest in the Smart Grids thematic area to obtain funding for the development and modernization of transport and distribution networks in Romania. We have taken a very important step in the implementation of this strategic project for both our companies and the energy systems in the two countries. The project will directly contribute to increasing the capacity of the networks to absorb decentralized energy production. We thus support renewable energy producers, future prosumers, and, equally, final electricity consumers.” said Volker Raffel, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Delgaz Grid.
„Securing European funding for the CARMEN project confirms the importance of developing smart energy infrastructure at the regional and European levels. For Transelectrica, this project represents a step towards accelerating the digitalization of the electricity transmission grid, increasing the capacity to integrate energy from renewable sources, and strengthening energy security. Through close collaboration between the transmission and distribution operators in Romania and Bulgaria, we are jointly contributing to consolidation a more flexible, more resilient interconnected grid that is better prepared to face the challenges of the energy transition. I congratulate those who made this project technically possible, but equally those who made it possible to obtain this funding!” Ștefăniță Munteanu, President of the Directorate of the National Company of Electric Power Transelectrica SA, stated.
„In Bulgaria, the modernization of the electricity transmission network within this project aims to increase its capacity in the northeast of the country, to harness the potential for green electricity production, and to ensure the transmission of energy from renewable sources along the North-South priority corridor. The project represents a top priority investment for the company and a continuation of efforts to meet the challenges of the transforming energy sector. Investments made within the CARMEN project will contribute to strengthening network stability and increasing the capacity of the transport infrastructure in Southeastern Europe, for the integration of the ever-increasing share of new zero-emission production capacities. European funding will allow the modernization of the network so that it adequately meets the electricity demand for clean mobility, data centers, and the implementation of green hydrogen production technologies. The implementation of the project will promote cross-border cooperation between Bulgaria and Romania, as well as with neighboring countries.”said Kiril Georgiev, CEO of ESO, Bulgaria's transmission and system operator.
The CARMEN Project of Common Interest aims to develop a smart transport and distribution network to improve the quality of services offered to its customers and to make investments that ensure compliance with mandatory performance standards, by modernizing and digitizing the electricity infrastructure.