The Ministry of Energy has approved and published the list of quality standards applicable to solid biofuels, used by accredited testing laboratories for compliance assessment. The respective order was published in the Official Gazette and entered into force on February 21, 2025. The documents were developed with the support of the European Union and UNDP Moldova.

The adoption of these standards allows consumers to verify the quality of biofuels and benefit from certified products, thereby contributing to the reduction of fossil fuel use in favor of renewable energy sources.

Additionally, the application of these standards is stipulated in the Regulation on Solid Biofuels, approved in November 2024, which provides market surveillance authorities with a clear regulatory and monitoring framework. The regulation and the list of standards reference European Standards, ensuring that any future international modifications will not require adjustments to the national legal framework.

The standardization of biomass fuels aims to increase the use of locally available solid biofuels instead of imported fossil fuels such as coal, oil, or natural gas in the thermal energy production sector—particularly in medium-power plants serving public, residential, and commercial sectors.

This approach supports local resources, reduces transportation distances and greenhouse gas emissions, and ensures that money spent on energy remains within the local economy rather than being used for fossil fuel imports. It also promotes local employment and encourages domestic investments.

"The calorific value of a product is an essential indicator that must be communicated transparently, along with other fuel characteristics. The application of quality standards will enforce strict rules for labeling and certification, ensuring that every user can make informed choices and be guaranteed a high-quality product," stated Carolina Novac, State Secretary at the Ministry of Energy.

According to data from the National Center for Sustainable Energy (NCSE), Moldova currently has 42 solid biofuel producers and over 300 public institutions using biomass for heating. Biomass thermal plants in public institutions have a total installed capacity of 70 MW and can replace the consumption of up to 20 million cubic meters of natural gas. As a result, natural gas costs of approximately 20 million dollars can be avoided, keeping this money within the country and supporting local biofuel producers.

The list of quality standards can be accessed at the following link:
https://energie.gov.md/sites/default/files/document/attachments/lista_standardelor_ro_3.doc

The Regulation on Solid Biofuels is available here:
https://gov.md/sites/default/files/document/attachments/nu-722-men-2024.pdf