€200 million invested in large wind and solar parks; Ministry of Energy selects first auction winners
The winners of the first auction for the construction of large wind and photovoltaic parks, which will have a total capacity of 165 MW, were announced on June 24. This initiative is expected to attract investments of approximately 200 million euros over the next three years, significantly increasing the generation capacities of wind and solar energy. Authorities state that this is a major step towards enhancing the country's energy independence and security.
According to Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu, the auction aimed to contract 105 megawatts for wind farms and 60 megawatts for photovoltaics, attracting considerable interest from investors. Several bids were submitted for the auctioned capacities, resulting in five projects selected for wind farms and six for photovoltaics.
"This means we are attracting investments to the Republic of Moldova, building for our people, increasing energy security, and decarbonizing our energy sector. It will also help reduce energy prices, as renewable energy sources are both the largest source of generation in Moldova and the most cost-effective. We mean approximately 1.59 lei per kilowatt-hour or about 80.5 euros per megawatt. Ultimately, all these measures aim to protect citizens, safeguard the country, and benefit society," Minister Junghietu stated during a conference.
The new projects are expected to contribute approximately 7.5% to annual electricity consumption and create over 400 jobs. The auction winners will sign contracts lasting 15 years and ensure the quality of the equipment used.
This auction marks the most significant direct investment ever made in the country over a three-year period, said Carolina Novac, the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Energy. She added that a stable and predictable legal framework has been established, providing investors with clarity and transparency.
"All investors at that solar power plant are local. Over the past three years, we've faced criticism suggesting that only foreign investors would participate and that this tender was exclusive to them. However, our renewable energy market has matured, and local manufacturers are now acquiring the necessary knowledge. All equipment will be new, including wind turbines. This is crucial because the capacity factor—referring to the volume of electricity production from each turbine—will be significantly higher than second-hand equipment," Secretary Novac explained.
She also noted that these wind and photovoltaic projects will significantly contribute to the Republic of Moldova's commitment to achieving at least 30% of electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2030.
A new round of auctions for constructing wind power plants with an estimated capacity of up to 173 megawatts will be announced in October, with a bid submission deadline projected for March 2026. For the first time, this auction will also include storage solutions with a capacity of up to 22 megawatts.
