Moldova starts the first auction for sustainable energy – SPE

The Moldovan Ministry of Energy has officially launched its first renewable energy tender for the construction of up to 165 MW of solar and wind energy projects. The auction aims to purchase 60 MW of solar power and 105 MW of wind power, as outlined in plans first announced in January.

Interested investors may submit multiple bids for different projects, but the proposed solar projects must have an installed capacity between 1 MW and 60 MW, while the wind projects can be between 4 MW and 105 MW.

The successful applicants will receive a fixed price for electricity, guaranteed for a period of 15 years. The guaranteed fixed price is determined during the auction procedure, but cannot exceed the ceiling price set by the National Agency for Energy Regulation, of MDL 1.67 ($0.095)/kWh for solar energy and MDL 1.5/kWh for wind energy.

The government said on its website that the contracts will be awarded to investors who offer the lowest price at the set ceiling price. The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2025.

“With this auction we want to offer local and international companies the opportunity to invest in the Republic of Moldova,” said Energy Minister Victor Parlicov. “The beauty of this process is that everyone benefits – we provide business opportunities, we contribute to decarbonizing the energy sector and increasing the country’s energy independence, and through competition we bring the most affordable prices. ”

The Energy Ministry said it expects the share of electricity from renewable sources in Moldova to rise from 10% at the end of 2023 to 16.6% after the auction’s commissioned power plants are operational. The country aims for a 30% share of renewable energy by 2030.

The auction follows the introduction of a new one approval process for power plants above 20 MW, aimed at making the construction and commissioning documentation process more efficient and transparent.

Moldova had 87 MW of cumulative installed solar capacity at the end of 2023, compared to 60 MW a year earlier, according to figures from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).