Moldova is launching its second auction round for onshore wind farms with a total capacity of up to 170 MW, requiring mandatory battery energy storage systems. Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu announced the initiative at an investors' conference in Chisinau.
The auction's key feature is a requirement to install battery energy storage systems (BESS) at a minimum ratio of 0.25 MWh per MW of wind capacity. According to the minister, this will enhance grid flexibility and system stability.
Over five years, Moldova's installed renewable energy capacity has grown from 77 MW in 2020 to nearly 1,000 MW — a more than twelvefold increase. The first auction round attracted approximately €200 million in investment and created around 400 jobs.
"The country's energy transition has moved from policy statements to concrete results. Wind power and energy storage are the foundation of this transition, reducing import dependence and enabling efficient renewable integration into the grid," Junghietu said.
The minister highlighted the economic impact of green investments: over 1,200 people are employed in the solar sector and around 400 in wind energy, with numbers continuing to rise.
Giuseppe Grimaldi, head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) office in Moldova, called the auction a significant step toward energy transition and European integration. It is the country's first auction combining renewable generation with energy storage, reflecting alignment with EU standards.
The EBRD is supporting Moldova's Energy Ministry with technical assistance financed by the European Union and the bank's shareholders. Since beginning operations in the country, the EBRD has invested over €2.8 billion in 193 projects in Moldova.
