On January 8, 2026, when the project team of China Energy Engineering East China Institute received the winning bid notification from Huadian Overseas Investment Co., Ltd., the entire office immediately boiled - this notification not only means that the EPC general contracting project of the 154.7MWac photovoltaic project has been awarded to East China Institute, but also marks the first time that this old design institute has independently shouldered the banner of new energy EPC general contracting in the high-end market of the European Union.

This is a significant "ice breaking" project, which has landed in Kotofi City, Dorj Province, Romania. It consists of four 45MWp photovoltaic sub projects with a total installed capacity equivalent to 180MWp, covering an area of 198.1 hectares. After being put into operation, a continuous stream of clean electricity will be integrated into the local power grid, pressing the "acceleration key" for Romania's energy structure transformation.

From "drawing blueprints" to "general contracting": the inevitable path for design institutes to transform

Against the backdrop of industry transformation, this business is more like a heavy "milestone". In the past, the role of design institutes was limited to "leaving after throwing away the drawings"; Nowadays, shifting from a single design to EPC general contracting for the entire design, procurement, and construction chain has long been a two-way choice between policy guidance and market pressure.

The country continues to encourage the general contracting model of engineering projects, and owners also prefer "one-stop service" - finding a general contractor to coordinate the entire process can not only reduce coordination costs, but also centralize risk control. More realistically, the traditional design track has already entered the red ocean competition, and the EPC model can precisely transform the technical advantages of design institutes into tangible profits, achieving a leap from "technology output" to "value output".

Breaking through the EU's high-end market: a dual test of technology and management

To tackle the "hard bone" of the EU market, it relies not only on technical confidence, but also on the real effort of refined operation. Unlike emerging markets such as Southeast Asia and Africa, the European Union has set extremely high thresholds for technical standards, environmental requirements, and construction specifications for new energy projects.

The breakthrough of Huadong Institute lies in the details of the entire project process: repeatedly optimizing the layout of photovoltaic panels and equipment selection during the design phase to maximize power generation efficiency; Finding a precise balance between cost-effectiveness and supply chain stability in the procurement process; During the construction phase, we will work together with the local team to respect local construction habits while maintaining strict control over quality and progress. This challenge not only validates the technological strength of Chinese enterprises, but also demonstrates the wisdom of localized operations.

Under the east wind of the "the Belt and Road" initiative, this project of East China Institute has undoubtedly written a model of great reference value for Chinese energy and power engineering enterprises to go to the EU high-end market. In the future, as more design institutes accelerate their transition to EPC general contracting, China's new energy technology and standards will shine brighter on the global stage.Editor/Bian Wenjun