Energy minister says developing energy storage capacities strategic priority for Moldova

The development prospects of the renewable energy market of Moldova, the investment needs for storage capacities and the support instruments required for a more efficient use of green energy have been analyzed at a dialogue launched by the Energy Ministry with renewable energy producers, the banking community, and financial institutions.

Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu emphasized that the development of storage capacities was a strategic priority for Moldova.

“We have investors who have built photovoltaic capacities and we already have an excess of energy during certain intervals of the day. The solution is for this energy to be stored and used during peak hours. In this way, we help investors enhance the profitability of their projects, while Moldova reduces its dependence on imports and its exposure to the volatility of the regional market,” the minister said.

The Energy Ministry announced that it was preparing legislative amendments aimed at accelerating investments in energy storage systems and RES projects. Among the measures under consideration, there are the introduction of state aid mechanisms for investments in BESS, as well as the possibility of deferring the  payment of value added tax on imports for a period of up to 28 months, with the cancellation of the payment obligation, if the project is implemented within the established timeframe.

The authorities are also examining the removal of the requirement for a building permit and a zonal urban plan for BESS installations and renewable energy parks, with the goal of shortening administrative deadlines and speeding up investments.

According to statistics data, approximately 1,023 MW of renewable energy generation capacity is currently installed in Moldova, of which about 72 per cent are photovoltaic installations. However, the rapid increase of these capacities generates a significant surplus of electricity during the day, which, in the absence of storage solutions, is not efficiently utilized.

The Energy Ministry estimates that the power system needs at least 600 MWh of storage capacity, in order to shift energy produced during the day to the evening peak consumption hours, thereby reducing imports and increasing the country’s energy security. In the context, participants in the meeting reported that the largest battery system of 60 MWh had been recently launched, which together with other BESS covers up to seven per cent of peak-hour consumption. Additional storage system capacities are expected to be commissioned in the near future.