With EU support, the Causeni district hospital is the first one in the Republic of Moldova to be heated with biomass energy

“I am particularly delighted with the launch of these two new heating-systems in Causeni which symbolize a further development of our Biomass project in the Republic of Moldova.  The Causeni District hospital is the first one to be connected to biomass heating system in the framework of our project and the Directorate of Exceptional Situations, the first institution of this type being connected through the project. Not only are they connected to biomass for heating but they will also benefit of solar collectors providing hot water. These new investments will directly benefit all the users of these institutions and make their environment more comfortable.  There is also a great opportunity to make financial savings and use locally produced green energy”, Aneil Singh, Head of Cooperation Section within European Union Delegation, stated.

The Causeni hospital is the largest institution among the beneficiaries of the Energy and Biomass Project. Its curative building, connected to heating and hot water supply systems that use renewables, provides healthcare assistance to more than 6,000 persons per year. The main hospital’s wards are located in it: the intensive care unit, the surgery, trauma, maternity, pediatric and cardiology wards. The total capacity of the heating plant is 750 kW and the heated area is over 6,700 m2; the 30 solar collectors will provide enough hot water to respond to the needs of the patients and of the hospital’s staff.

“The curative building requires a higher level of thermal comfort and, above all, safety of heating provision.  The new heating system gives us energy independence: we shall use the energy produced in our country. The solar collectors will ensure hot water provision, and the cost of electricity will decrease. Not least, we appreciate the fact that clean energy will be used, protecting the environment and the people’s health”, Valentina Panfilova, doctor at the hospital of Causeni, said.

“We are glad that the coverage of the projects for connection to biomass heating systems expands towards medical, rescue and other vital institutions. With their expansion, not only the local energetic autonomy will advance, but also the local economy: new jobs are created, new businesses are developed, benefitting men and women”, Stefan Liller, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative for Moldova, noted.  

The Directorate of Exceptional Situations is the second beneficiary of the Energy and Biomass Project in this community. The institution substituted gas heating with biomass one, also expanding its heated area. In addition to it, solar collectors were installed to produce hot water. The capacity of the heating plant is 90 kW and may heat an area of 750 m2 that is used by the 90 rescuers.

 “The investment projects have helped our district to make a leap forward in decreasing the energetic dependence from the external gas and coal suppliers. At the first stage of implementation (2011-2014), the Energy and Biomass Project installed biomass heating plants in three other communities of the district of Causeni: Ciuflesti, Tanatarii Noi and Carnatenii Noi. We plan to extend green projects in other communities”, Ion Ciontoloi, President of the Căuşeni district Council, stated.

The Energy and Biomass Project, the first large project in green energy sector launched in 2011, has an ambitious purpose:  to contribute to safe, competitive and sustainable production of biomass energy, the most viable and accessible source of renewable energy in the Republic of Moldova. Throughout 5 years of operation, it has undertaken a visible change within the national energy sector:

• Over 130,000 persons enjoy a higher environmentally safe thermal comfort.
• Over 9.02 million Euros, from European funds, were invested in biomass heating plants.
• 190 schools, kindergartens, community centres are equipped with modern biomass heating systems, including 10 kindergartens and community centres provided with solar panels for water heating.
• 1,000 families heat their houses using green energy due to the Subsidy Programme launched by the Energy and Biomass Project.

The Energy and Biomass Project is funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme. The budget of the second stage of the project (2015-2017) amounts to 9.41 million Euros, allocated by the European Union.