Electricity in Moldova in 2024
In 2024, Moldova’s electricity consumption primarily relies on fossil fuels, which constitute approximately 71% of the energy mix. Gas is the dominant fossil fuel, providing around 66% of the total electricity consumed. In contrast, low-carbon energy sources currently play a minor role, contributing just over 9% to the overall electricity generation. Within this low-carbon segment, hydropower contributes almost 4%, wind energy accounts for about 3%, and solar power contributes a little over 2%. Net imports, which are not categorized under fossil or low-carbon, make up nearly 20% of Moldova's electricity supply, indicating a significant reliance on external sources for meeting electricity needs.
Suggestions
To increase its low-carbon electricity generation, Moldova should consider expanding its clean energy infrastructure, with a strong focus on nuclear, wind, and solar power. Moldova can take inspiration from countries like Slovakia and Ukraine, where nuclear power accounts for more than half of their electricity generation. Additionally, insights can be drawn from Denmark and Lithuania, which have effectively harnessed wind energy to produce around a quarter to a half of their electricity. Emulating these examples, Moldova could prioritize investments in nuclear and wind energy projects to significantly cut down carbon emissions and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, thus advancing towards a more sustainable and self-reliant energy future.
History
Tracing back Moldova’s history in low-carbon electricity, the efforts have been modest yet indicative of potential growth. In the early 1990s, Moldova saw fluctuations in hydroelectric power output with minor increases and decreases, revealing periods of instability. This stagnation continued into the 2010s, with negligible changes in hydroelectric power generation, except for occasional small increases around 2010 and 2017. Despite the halt in progress back then, recent years have shown budding development in wind and solar energy. For instance, 2022 marked the addition of wind power, although solar energy gains were moderate. The slow but evident progress in solar energy as seen in 2024 signals a new potential frontier for Moldova's low-carbon electricity ambitions, especially if the focus expands to nuclear energy solutions.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.