August 26, 2025, Chișinău – The importance and benefits of using solid biofuel sources in the public and private sectors are at the heart of a national information campaign organized by the National Center for Sustainable Energy (CNED) in partnership with the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Moldova. The campaign, which will run from September 2025 to March 2026, aims to promote the transition to more environmentally friendly energy sources, reducing dependence on natural gas and supporting the local economy through the use of renewable resources.

Solid biofuel heating plants provide an efficient solution for ensuring thermal comfort in public institutions, helping reduce carbon emissions, minimizing environmental impact, and generating significant savings on energy costs. Institutions and enterprises that adopt these technologies can become models of best practice in utilizing local resources, thereby supporting rural communities and strengthening the circular economy.

“About 64% of households in Moldova still heat their homes with firewood in stoves with low thermal efficiency. Using solid biofuels in these households represents a shift to more advanced technology, bringing greater thermal comfort and efficiency. Transitioning from gas heating also means savings for family budgets. Additionally, this approach will help reduce imports, develop local businesses, and decrease environmental impact,” stated Dorin Junghietu, Minister of Energy.

“Renewable energy is not just about solar panels or wind turbines. Biomass in Moldova can play a more significant role in the energy mix, contributing to the goal of 27% renewable energy in the final energy consumption of the sector. Through this campaign, we encourage institutions and the public to adopt modern solid biofuel solutions, which not only increase energy efficiency but also provide long-term benefits for society as a whole. Moreover, this sector generates economic and environmental advantages nationally and has a significant social impact by creating new jobs and fostering the local circular economy,” said Ion Muntean, Director of CNED.

The campaign is part of the 48 actions outlined in the Heating Season 2025–2026 Preparation Plan, recently approved by the Government. As part of the campaign, representatives of public institutions and the business sector will have access to seminars, practical guides, and consultancy sessions for adopting and maintaining solid biofuel heating plants, ensuring optimal operation during the 2025–2026 heating season. Additionally, the online platform piata-biomasa.md provides up-to-date information on suppliers, products, and services, facilitating direct connections between supply and demand and supporting the sustainable development of the biofuel market.

Currently, more than 300 solid biofuel plants operate in public institutions, with a total capacity of approximately 70 MW. These can annually replace up to 20 million m³ of natural gas, equivalent to about 2% of national consumption. In the private sector, several thousand smaller plants are also in operation. The use of solid biofuel heating plants thus helps retain important resources within the local economy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

The National Center for Sustainable Energy (CNED) is a public institution under the Ministry of Energy tasked with coordinating and organizing activities to ensure the implementation of state policy in its areas of competence, including attracting and managing financial resources to fund and promote projects and programs in a sustainable manner from an environmental and climate perspective, while also contributing to increasing the country’s energy security.