The Republic of Moldova must discourage prosumers from installing oversized photovoltaic units because they cause difficulties for energy distributors, and a future mechanism to help achieve this goal will be the introduction of a tariff on installed capacity. Data compiled by the Energy Efficiency Agency of the Republic of Moldova show that the installed capacity of PV residential prosumers is 5 to 10 times higher than their consumption needs.
“We need continuous and correct information for consumers who want to install photovoltaics because we are in a period where things are adjusting in a direction which is healthier for everyone. It is necessary to discourage oversizing of PV systems among prosumers because it creates difficulties for distributors. At this time the situation can still be corrected without significant consequences. A capacity tariff for the installed power will also be introduced”, said Ion Muntean, director of the Agency for Energy Efficiency of the Republic of Moldova, during the “Regional Approach Chișinău” conference organized by Energynomics.
From January to August 2023, the average installed power of residential photovoltaic power plants in the Republic of Moldova increased from 8.71 kW to 9.21 kW, compared to an average of 6.5 kW per household in Romania. While these units could each generate approximately 10,000 kWh of electricity per year, statistical data show that a household in the Republic of Moldova consumes only 1,061 kWh of electricity per year on average.
Currently, the largest producers of PV energy in the Republic of Moldova are prosumers, beneficiaries of the net metering scheme. They add up to 88.7% of the total capacity installed in this segment. Overall, wind installations have the largest share in renewable sources with 54% (141 MW), followed by photovoltaics with 34% (87 MW), while biogas and hydroelectric units each have a share of 6%.
According to Muntean, the authorities support the development of energy production units from renewable sources, but this must be done on the basis of “evidence and statistical data”, in a sustainable manner, so that it benefits as many consumers as possible, especially since the number of electric vehicles in the country is doubling from year to year, and the increase in the share of green energy in the country’s total production is inevitable.
In addition, the Agency for Energy Efficiency of the Republic of Moldova will transform, in the near future, into a National Center for Sustainable Energy that will complete its portfolio of activities with the financing and implementation of projects in the field of energy efficiency.
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The new institution will also play the role of a “super-ESCO” (project aggregator) entity that will manage energy efficiency projects for the residential sector. The priority objective of the institution is the creation this year of a fund for energy efficiency in the residential sector, in order to be able to launch a program for the efficiency of energy consumption in public buildings in 2024.
“We want to lay the foundations of a flexible institution that can deal with the needs and realities of Moldova at this moment,” Muntean said.
The conference “Regional Approach Chișinău” was organized by Energynomics with the support of our partners Huawei, Siemens Energy, Transgaz.