In 2025, Moldova's electricity consumption heavily relies on energy imports and fossil fuels. More than half of Moldova's electricity, approximately 52%, is imported, making the country significantly dependent on external energy sources. Fossil fuels, primarily natural gas, constitute more than a third of the electricity supply, accounting for about 37%. The contribution from low-carbon energy sources is quite limited, with low-carbon electricity making up merely 11% of the total. Within the clean energy segment, hydropower stands at just over 5%, while solar energy contributes close to 3%, and wind a modest 2%. This indicates that Moldova has considerable room for improvement in increasing its clean energy production to reduce reliance on imports and fossil fuels, which are harmful due to climate change impacts and air pollution.

Data sources used on this page include Ember, ENTSOE and IEA. More about data sources →

Is Electricity Growing in Moldova?

Moldova's electricity consumption per capita is considerably lower now compared to 1990. The latest data from 2025 shows that each person on average uses 1563 kWh of electricity per year, which is a significant decrease from the 3644 kWh per person recorded in 1990. This decline of over 2000 kWh/person is concerning, as it suggests that the growth of electricity consumption has not kept pace with potential demand increases due to developments like electrification and the rise of AI technologies. In terms of low-carbon electricity generation, there has also been a setback. The 172 kWh/person generated from low-carbon sources in 2025 is a drop from the 199 kWh/person record of 2023. The decline indicates a pressing need for Moldova to renew its focus on boosting clean energy capacity.

Suggestions

To enhance low-carbon electricity generation, Moldova can look to several successful examples around the world. Given Moldova's geographic positioning, drawing inspiration from countries like Slovakia and Ukraine, which rely heavily on nuclear power (66% and 55%, respectively), would be beneficial. Nuclear energy stands as a reliable and substantial source of low-carbon electricity, and investing in this sector could significantly uplift Moldova's clean electricity share. Additionally, Moldova could learn from states like Nevada and California, where solar makes up a significant portion of the electricity mix (33% and 29%, respectively). These regions showcase the viability of solar power in increasing clean energy percentages. By investing in both nuclear and solar facilities, Moldova can reduce its dependency on imports and fossil fuels, moving towards a more sustainable future.

History

Reviewing Moldova's history of low-carbon electricity reveals negligible progress over several decades, particularly in hydropower, which has witnessed minimal increases since 1991, with fluctuations but no significant gains. Notably, there were minor achievements in wind and solar power starting in 2022, with wind initially showing a positive change, but not maintaining momentum in subsequent years. The effort to enhance solar power, marked by a small increase in 2024, is a positive step, but Moldova's low-carbon energy strategy largely stagnated for years. Moldova must learn from this history by ramping up its efforts in scaling clean energy production to ensure its energy security and environmental commitments are met efficiently.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade