The Republic of Moldova has enough biomass of different types to ensure full substitution of other fuels
The biomass energy sector can be further developed through fiscal incentives and legislative interventions, recommends a policy paper developed with the support of UNDP Moldova under the EU-funded project “Addressing the impacts of the energy crisis in the Republic of Moldova”.
The study proposes to introduce the concept of short cutting cycle plantations into the forestry legislation in order to create a separate, simplified regulatory framework for the management of this type of forest. Energy poplar, energy willow, energy willow, energy acacia, miscanthus plantations, which grow in 1-4 years, can be used also in the thermal power plants of major cities.
The authors of the study recommend setting up mechanisms to incentivize farmers to increase the quantity and improve the quality of agricultural biomass used for energy purposes, in particular plant residues generated as a result of deforestation, fruit and vine plantations. The legislative proposals would also tidy up the maintenance of forests, parks and forest areas under the administration of public authorities and state-owned enterprises such as the State Road Administration, Moldsilva, Moldelectrica and others.
“Today, legislation on waste is not enforced and biomass is usually burned or dumped in landfills, which is contrary to the legislation in force. The situation persists, due to the lack of instruments and mechanisms for checking and penalizing in the event of infringements,” says Vladimir Bragaru, one of the authors of the study.
Other initiatives to encourage the production of briquettes and pellets could be the non-taxation of reinvested profits, as well as subsidizing the installation of photovoltaic systems for producers in order to reduce the cost of electricity used in biomass processing. The development of the sector must be geared towards business re-engineering, the promotion of circular economy technologies and, equally, the development of the consumer sector by promoting technologies for the industrial use of biomass.
The biomass energy sector developed between 2012-2017 with the implementation of the “Energy and Biomass” project, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP Moldova. As a result of this project, 320 public institutions of the Republic of Moldova, such as schools, kindergartens, cultural facilities, were provided with thermal energy. At the same time, the foundations were laid for biomass management and its processing into new products for the local market, such as pellets and briquettes.
During the 2021-2022 energy crisis, the need to revive the biomass energy sector came to the fore again.
According to experts, the Republic of Moldova has enough biomass of various types to ensure the total substitution of other types of fuels, such as coal, and to provide energy resources for a good part of the population. “In addition, special attention should be paid to industry, which has implemented very few green technologies and which has a huge potential. Also, an area that has enormous potential are the producers of centralized thermal energy, such as Termoelectrica,” adds Vladimir Bragaru.
In addition to energy crop stubble and the waste resulting from the clearing of green strips, vineyards and orchards, cereal crop straw and biomass from maize cultivation have very good potential for local renewable energy production from biomass. Their availability throughout the country can provide a higher degree of security for the implementation of investment projects in the field of heat supply or cogeneration plants, according to UNDP policy paper.
“The energy crisis that the Republic of Moldova has gone through in recent years has highlighted the importance of developing the biofuels sector. We need to capitalize on the resources we have in the country, not only to strengthen our energy security, but also to take over as many renewable energy practices as possible, thus replacing a good part of fossil and polluting energy sources. We will support subsidy measures through the Residential Sector Energy Efficiency Fund, targeting the installation of biomass boilers for disadvantaged households,” says Carolina Novac, State Secretary at the Ministry of Energy.
Official data show that in the Republic of Moldova in recent years an average of 25.5 thousand tons of solid biofuels have been produced annually, a volume equivalent to the consumption. Small-scale producers predominate, for whom this business is seasonal and not necessarily a priority. 313 public institutions and 1159 households have solid biofuel heating plants. The authors of the study point out that some of the public institutions and private households that have solid biofuel plants have not used them as their main source of heating. It is assumed that the number of residential households using solid biofuels in the form of pellets and briquettes may actually be higher than the official statistics.
