The Costești Hydroelectric Power Plant may double its generation capacity through new renewable energy projects. These initiatives were presented to the Minister of Energy, Dorin Junghietu, during an information visit to the Costești Hydropower Node enterprise.

The enterprise showcased feasibility studies for the installation of a floating photovoltaic park and a wind farm, each with a capacity between 5 and 10 MW, along with energy storage batteries. According to the enterprise administrator, Igor Cibotaru, the power plant will significantly increase its production and become an important player in the electricity market, including in the balancing market, once the short-term markets are launched. The projects are to be submitted for approval to the company's Board of Directors.

These projects are expected to be implemented using the internal financial resources of the Costești Hydropower Node State Enterprise (Î.S. „NHEC”), accumulated in previous periods as a result of allocating net profits for enterprise development.

Following the implementation of these projects, the Costești Hydropower Node will diversify its sources of electricity production (water, wind, sun), reduce its dependence on a single generation source, and increase the volume of electricity produced, thereby contributing to the energy security of the Republic of Moldova.

Currently, the Costești Hydropower Node operates a generator with a capacity of 16 MW, commissioned in 1978. The plant’s maximum electricity generation capacity is approximately 65 million kilowatt-hours per year, which accounts for about 6% of the electricity generated locally. The plant operates based on decisions made by the Moldovan-Romanian operational group managing the Costești dam, depending on the water flow accumulated in the reservoir. When the water level is insufficient, the hydro generators operate in rotation.

The Costești reservoir is the second largest in the country after the Dubăsari reservoir. It stretches 70 km upstream along the Prut River, covering an area of 59 square kilometers, with a storage capacity of 1.285 billion cubic meters and a maximum depth of 43 meters.