Renewable energy developer Rezolv Energy is set to begin construction later this summer on the 1 GW Dama Solar project, planned to become the EU’s largest solar park, marking a major milestone for Romania’s clean energy transition and the company’s broader ambitions across Central and Southeastern Europe. The 1.044 GW Dama Solar project, located in western Romania, is expected to enter commercial operation in late 2028. It also forms a central pillar of Rezolv’s plan to nearly double its renewable energy portfolio to between 4 GW and 5 GW by 2030 from approximately 2.3 GW today.
Dama Solar project: Overview
The Dama Solar project will be built on a site covering more than 1,000 hectares in Arad County, close to Romania’s border with Hungary. Once operational, it is expected to generate enough electricity to supply hundreds of thousands of households. This is while significantly reducing carbon emissions.
At 1.044 GW, the development will surpass existing photovoltaic projects across the bloc, making it the largest solar installation within the European Union (EU) and one of Europe’s largest renewable energy projects overall.
The project is also being developed without reliance on state subsidies. It is a reflection of growing investor confidence in merchant renewable energy markets and long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs).
Renewable expansion opportunity across Central and Southeastern Europe
According to Rezolv Energy CEO Alastair Hammond, Dama Solar project will start construction in late summer, with completion targeted for the second half of 2028. The company also believes electricity demand across Central and Southeastern Europe will continue to rise. This is as industries electrify, coal-fired generation is getting phased out, and countries continue to seek greater energy independence following the disruption to European energy markets over recent years.
Hammond also noted that the region remains underdeveloped compared with Western Europe in renewable energy deployment. This, he notes, creates a significant opportunity for large-scale investment.
Other Rezolv solar projects in Europe
The Dama Solar project in Romania complements several other flagship investments within Rezolv’s portfolio. In Bulgaria, the company is advancing the 229 MW St. George solar project, while its 461 MW VIFOR wind farm is expected to become one of the country’s largest onshore wind developments.
Together with Dama Solar, these projects position Rezolv among the leading independent renewable energy producers in Southeast Europe and provide a diversified generation portfolio capable of serving both corporate and utility customers through long-term power supply agreements.
Romania’s renewable energy landscape
Romania has emerged as one of Europe’s fastest-growing renewable energy markets. This follows years of relatively limited investment after the country’s initial solar boom in the early 2010s.
The government is also seeking to replace ageing coal-fired generation. This is in a bid to improve energy security and meet increasingly ambitious European climate targets.
Romania also benefits from high solar irradiation, available land and improving transmission infrastructure. This makes it attractive for gigawatt-scale renewable developments. Recent reforms have also supported corporate PPAs, contracts for difference (CfDs) and expanded grid investments intended to provide additional renewable capacity. This is as other projects such as the 342 MW Parau Phase II Solar PV Project continue to advance construction ahead of planned 2027 completion.
What Dama Solar project has in store for Romania
The Dama Solar development is expected to contribute significantly to Romania’s long-term objective of increasing renewable electricity generation. This is while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.
The project also reflects a broader shift across Europe toward larger integrated renewable developments capable of supplying industrial consumers directly. This is as demand for clean electricity increases through electrification, data center expansion and green manufacturing initiatives.
Renewable energy forecasts also expect utility-scale solar to remain among the lowest-cost sources of new electricity generation despite recent increases in equipment and financing costs.
Economic benefits, construction jobs and Romania’s clean energy transition
Beyond its immediate contribution to renewable electricity production, Dama Solar project is expected to generate substantial economic benefits through construction jobs, regional infrastructure upgrades and long-term operational roles.
The project also further strengthens Romania’s position as an emerging clean energy hub within Southeast Europe. This is expected to attract international investment while supporting the Romania’s transition toward a more resilient and diversified electricity system.
If completed on schedule, the Dam Solar farm facility will represent one of the largest privately financed renewable energy investments ever undertaken in Romania. It will also be a landmark achievement for the European solar industry.
Dama Solar PV Project in Romania: Fact Sheet
Location: Graniceri and Pilu communes, Arad County, western Romania, near the Hungarian border.
Developer: Rezolv Energy S.A.
Project Company (SPV): West Power Investments S.R.L.
Owner: West Power Investments S.R.L., wholly owned by Rezolv Energy.
Original Developer: Monsson Group (project acquired by Rezolv Energy before construction).
Majority Investor: Actis
Minority Investor: Mubadala Investment Company
Technology: Utility-scale ground-mounted solar photovoltaic
Installed Capacity (AC): 1,044 MW
Installed Capacity (DC): Approximately 1,238.9 MWp (1.2 GWp).
Project Footprint: More than 1,000 hectares (1,064 hectares).
Estimated Total Investment: €710 million (EIB appraisal), although earlier development estimates exceeded €800 million before battery storage additions.
Proposed EIB Financing: €100 million.
Other Potential Lenders: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB).
Construction Start: Late summer 2026.
Expected Commercial Operation: Second half of 2028.
Current Status: Final development stage with confirmed grid access; construction commencing.
Grid Connection: Dedicated 400 kV connection to the Nadab-Bekescsaba transmission line operated by Transelectrica.
Transmission System Operator (TSO): Transelectrica S.A.
Power Offtake: Long-term corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and merchant electricity sales.
Future Expansion: Rezolv is evaluating the addition of large-scale battery energy storage to improve dispatchability.
Estimated Annual Generation: Enough electricity to supply more than 280,000 households (close to 1 million people).
Estimated CO2 Emissions Avoided: Approximately 619,000 tonnes annually.
Construction Employment: More than 500 jobs expected during construction.
Environmental Features: Designed to high ESG standards, including sheep grazing for vegetation management, biodiversity enhancement and community engagement initiatives.
Strategic Significance: Expected to become the largest solar power plant in the EU and one of Europe’s largest utility-scale PV projects. Dama Solar project also supports Romania’s renewable energy and decarbonization targets.
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