What is the electricity system like in Moldova?

The electricity system in Moldova is characterised by its reliance on imports. In 2020, of its 4.4 TWh of electricity demand, 81% was supplied by imports, either from Ukraine (4%) or from the Cuciurgani-Moldavskaya GRES (MGRES) gas-fired power plant (77%) located in the breakaway region of Transnistria.

How has Moldova restructured its electricity distribution network?

As part of the reforms, Moldova restructured and partially privatized its electricity distribution network, including Premier Energy, a private company that controls 70 percent of the country’s electric distribution grid.

Does Moldova have a power grid?

Moldova’s electricity grid was predominantly built in the time of the Soviet Union, making it relatively old and inefficient. It is synchronously interconnected with Ukraine’s Integrated Power System (IPS) and, in turn, Russia’s Unified Power System (UPS) in the northern and south-eastern parts of the grid.

How does Moldova share energy data?

Moldova shares energy data through five annual International Energy Agency (IEA)/Eurostat/UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) joint questionnaires.

What is electricity demand in Moldova?

Electricity demand in Moldova is characterised by a winter peak demand. The typical load variation in the winter season, based on 2019 operational data is between a minimum base load of 540 MW and a maximum peak load of 950 MW, while in the summer, it varies from a minimum of 480 MW and a peak load of 800 MW.

Can Moldova connect asynchronously with Romania?

Prior to the synchronous interconnection with Continental Europe, Moldova aims to connect asynchronously with Romania via High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) back-to-back converters, with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) concluded between the two countries in 2015 on five key projects for interconnecting both their electricity and gas systems.