The European Union has a very active role in the development of the National Program to improve energy efficiency in the residential sector, and not only. Moldova enjoys technical assistance thanks to various EU-funded projects, such as the Green House Program, which was piloted on independent houses, said Ion Muntean, director of the National Center for Sustainable Energy, during an IPN debate on Tuesday.

The European Union also financed projects to improve the heating supply in four apartment blocks. With the support of the EU, significant funds have been attracted, including 9,5 million euros through the EBRD, which will mobilize much greater resources for a program that will complement Moldova’s financing program.

The financing program of the Energy Efficiency Fund was approved by the Government in April of this year. Progress has been made with the internal regulatory framework, regarding the organization of calls to identify potential beneficiaries, including the initiation of financing. To date, energy audits were performed for 25 condominiums, with 39 more associations to follow. Where local authorities get involved, things go faster. Ion Muntean added that the process of contracting energy audit services for the first 60 independent houses is underway as well.

By the end of 2027, the rehabilitation of 100 multistoried residential blocks and 2000 independent houses is planned, with an estimated budget of 1.4 billion lei.

Ion Muntean believes that the available funds are sufficient for large programs, and the state is ready to increase them at any time. “We are also working with development partners and there is interest in their support. There are already positive results regarding the allocation of financial resources from the EU, to supplement the means of the fund dedicated to the implementation of energy efficiency measures in the residential sector. Investments of 12 million euros would come from the discussions with the partners”, said Munteanu.

Ion Munteanu also noted that on October 3-4, in Chisinau, an international Forum dedicated to innovative solutions for energy efficiency in the residential sector will be organized, with representatives from Estonia, Germany, Ukraine, Portugal, Italy, France and other countries with vast experience in the field.

The debate titled “Improving energy efficiency in the residential sector with European support” was the fifth installment of the “EU Accession Benefits” Series, run by IPN with the support of the Soros Moldova Foundation.