The Energy Efficiency Agency (EEA) is interested in geothermal energy technologies. “We do not have natural sources of hot springs, as Romania and other countries do. However, the application of such technologies in Moldova is an optimal solution,” EEA director Alexandru Ciudin has told IPN.
“Ordinary water is pumped to a depth of over 100 meters and this takes heat from there where the constant temperature is of 12°C throughout the year. This way the consumers have running hot water. With a heat exchanger, hot spring water can be used to heat rooms. The given energy can be converted to generate hot air, as in the case of air conditioning systems. The 12°C water in summer can be used to decrease temperature inside rooms. By specialized technologies, the temperature can be regulated, depending on needs,” explained Alexandru Ciudin.
Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland are world leaders in the production of such technologies. Recently, Alexandru Ciudin had a working meeting with Árni Þór Sigurðsson, Iceland’s Ambassador to Russia and, simultaneously, to Moldova, in which the interlocutors conferred on the opportunities of cooperation between the two countries in renewable energy, primarily in studying Iceland’s experience in producing geothermal energy and other types of renewable energy.
In Moldova, such technologies last year were implemented mostly in the private sector. “In the state sector, we financed two projects the last few years: at the Călărași Kindergarten “Licurici” and in Comrat, with the participation of foreign backers. The energy at the kindergarten in Călărași is generated by a geothermal pump and by solar collectors,” stated Alexandru Ciudin.
The given technology is more expensive than the other renewable energy technologies. There are a number of companies that install such technologies. For an apartment building that is 200-300 square meters in area, such a technology will be installed at a cost of about €20,000. The costs for kindergartens and other social facilities are higher.
An example of successful use of geothermal technology is at the Stăuceni Church “Nativity of Mary”. “We are the first church in Moldova that implemented this technology, 4-5 years ago,” the church’s bishop Gherghe Gavrilița has told IPN. Even if the church still pays a considerable amount for electricity, the bishop is satisfied that they do not incur costs for gas-based heating. The costs associated with the installation of the geothermal technology were twice lower than in the case of a gas-based heating system.
