Name of Project: Alternative Energy Project Romania

Location: Romania, Retezat National Park

This project is to be funded entirely by offset funds raised by the tour operator Sunvil. Please view our latest update on the project's progress.

Project Status Table for TICOS Project TP014
Date verified by TICOS: 7 January 2008
Estimated project cost:
180,179 euros
Project timescale:
7 years plus from receipt of funding
Additional sustainable development benefits:
  • Creates public awareness of alternative energy benefits and acts as a flagship demonstration to other such areas.
  • The local authority restriction on vehicular access to the park presents the local community with opportunities to provide alternative means of transport to visitors to the Lapusnicul Valley, such as using horse carriages.

Project Details

Retezat National Park is located in the Southern Carpathians in Romania and covers over 38,000 hectares. The Park shelters one of Europe's last remaining, unaffected natural primary forest and is the largest single area of pristine mixed forest. Wolves, brown bear, wild boar, lynx, wildcat, chamois, roe and red deer, as well as small carnivore species such as badger and otter populate the area.

The money donated by Sunvil customers will fund two carbon offset initiatives within the Park:

  1. the implementation of alternative energy systems (solar power) for the visitor centers, community centers and information points; and
  2. the introduction of bio-fuel minibuses and a new car park to reduce car access into the heart of the forest.

Four solar boilers being installed in two buildings in the park with funds raised for TICOS by Sunvil

Solar panel installationSolar panel installationSolar panel installation

This alternative energy project in Romania will act as an example to the surrounding communities and hopefully inspire them to consider energy efficient systems for their villages.

Reducing the use of wood for fuel will also reduce the pressure on the forests from the lower parts of the Park, the most exposed to intensive harvesting. Alternative activities could be offered to local people if a new transport system were set up on the Lapusnicul Valley, using horse carriages.

Latest Update - Autumn 2008

In August 2008, Retezat National Park Administration implemented the first stage of this project which was to install a solar water heating system in the Nucsoara Visitor Center. Four solar boilers have now been installed. The entire center (18 bathrooms, 14 toilets and 3 kitchens) is now using solar energy to heat water. The total surface of the buildings is 1860sqm.

In September, Retezat National Park Administration will organise a meeting for local authorities, pension owners, journalists and other people to showcase the benefits of solar energy.
 
In October, four solar panels were installed on the roof of the Information Center Pietrele which replaced a generator to provide electrical power for the building (see images below).

Solar panels at PietreleSolar panels at Pietrele

Retezat National Park Administration would like to thank Sunvil’s customers for their kind contributions to this project so far.