Republic of Moldova

The kindergarten from Ermoclia is heated with biomass-based energy

CHISINAU, January 23, 2012 – The kindergarten from Ermoclia, Stefan Voda district, is the first institution heated with energy produced from local agricultural waste, with the support of the Moldova Energy and Biomass Project. For several days, the 170 children enjoy the warm  premises of the kindergarten heated with  energy coming from biomass. “The rooms are as warm as when we used to heat the kindergarten with gas. The only difference is that heating is twice cheaper now”, says Svetlana Şargarovschi, Director of Ermoclia kindergarten.

The idea to get heated with locally produced energy was seized by Ermoclia authorities from the very first day. Inspired by the successful examples of other communities from the rayon which use biomass for heating, the villagers participated in the competition announced by the Moldova Energy and Biomass Project, funded by the European Union and co-funded, and implemented by UNDP Moldova. As a result of a rigorous selection and evaluation process, the project submitted by the kindergarten from Ermoclia came to life.

“This kindergarten marks the beginning of wide-scale use of biomass-based fuel in the Republic of Moldova and creates premises for an entire new industry. In addition to reducing the consumption of imported energy sources, we will introduce agricultural waste into economic circuit given that about 700 tons of straw remain annually unused on the fields, while their processing would be equal to one fourth of the annual natural gas import”, said Valeriu LAZĂR, Minister of Economy, during the ceremony for launching the new thermal system today in Ermoclia village. He pointed out that the Government makes effort to increase energy efficiency and use of renewable energy, allocating an amount of 180 million lei in 2012 for the Energy Efficiency Fund.

„ Europe shares with Moldova the recognition that our citizens need a secure supply of energy at affordable prices. That is why EU policy focuses on creating a competitive internal energy market offering quality service at low prices, on developing renewable energy sources, and promoting energy efficiency measures. I am confident that this event will significantly contribute to the promotion of renewable energy in Moldova and it will serve as a catalyst for a wide use of biomass-based fuel in Moldova.”, said Dirk Schuebel, Head of the European Union Delegation to Moldova.

To install the biomass-based heating system, the kindergarten benefited from financial support of about 1 million lei from the Moldova Energy and Biomass Project, an investment covering the technical design and construction of new biomass boiler plant, connection of boiler plant to power and water supply nets, construction of external networks for heat distribution, the thermal point, and other works. The community has also contributed by investing 426.000 lei – money used for installation of new double-pane PVC windows and outside doors, additional works at existing heating system, thus increasing the energy efficiency level of the kindergarten building, as well as, building of the storage for baled straw, and other works.

“The kindergarten from Ermoclia is one of the 43 public institutions from the 8 rayons of the Republic of Moldova selected in 2011 to benefit from installation of biomass-based heating systems within the framework of the Energy and Biomass Project. In 2012, 12 new rayons of Moldova have the chance to heat their schools, kindergartens, and community centers with biomass-based energy. Hence, by 2014, at least 130 rural public institutions throughout Moldova will be heated with locally produced energy”, said Kaarina Immonen, UNDP Moldova Resident Representative. “We welcome the commitment of the Republic of Moldova to improve its energy system so that energy is more affordable to everyone”.

Over 95% of the country’s energy needs, mainly fossil fuels, are imported. At the same time, the Republic of Moldova has a big potential to produce energy from renewables, especially from biomass, which is not yet explored. The energy produced from biomass has many benefits. It reduces dependency on imports, increases country’s energy security, has lower costs, fosters local economy development and communities’ development, allows for new business to start up and creates new jobs. Besides, the energy produced from renewables reduces green-house gas emissions and environment pollution.
Moldova Energy and Biomass Project is a four year project implemented during 2011-2014. The total budget of the project is 14.56 million Euro, granted by the European Union (14 million Euro) and UNDP Moldova (560,000 Euro).

For more information, please contact:

Ina Prisăcaru-Zglavuţă, Communication and Media Officer, Energy and Biomass Project, Tel: (+373 69)141006, ina.zglavuta@undp.org