Energy Efficiency in the Industrial Sector of Moldova.

The industrial sector is one of three main energy consumers with 12.5% in the country energy consumption (2013 year) following residential sector (41.5%) and transport sector (28.5%). Industrial Energy Efficiency represents a key element of a country's energy security strategy as the cost-effective measure with financial, economic, social and environmental benefits to meet their rapidly increasing energy demand. The energy balance of industry in 2013 year is related to coal energy (21.4%), natural gas (22.6%), electricity (29.2 %) and thermal heat (20.2%). The rest of energy come from oil products (6.2%) and the energy of biomass and waste fuel (0.4%).  [BNS report]

The priority policies and actions sets by National Energy Efficiency Program (NEEP ) shall be implemented during 2011-2020 in order to meet the challenges emerged as a result of energy prices increase, dependency on imported energy resources and the impact of the energy sector on climate change. The sector of energy import has the value of 94.8% in the country energy balance in 2013 year. Increased energy efficiency should lead to reduced dependency on imports and could have significant financial benefits on national budgets.

General objectives for industrial sector targeted by NEEP:
 - investment stimulation in energy-efficient equipment;
 - promotion of energy-efficient technologies;

Implementation of the NEEP shall be ensured through National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP ) and National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP), to be newly approved every three years. The Energy Strategy of Moldova until 2030 year and National Development Strategy „Moldova 2020" include deep economic analysis and targets for energy efficiency:
- reducing the primary energy consumption by 20% until 2020;
- increasing the share of renewable energy sources in the overall energy balance up to 20% in 2020;
- increasing the share of biofuels to at least 10% in the total amount of fuels used in 2020;
- reducing the GHG emissions by 25% until 2020.

The general benefits from energy efficiency measures in industry are:
- increasing productivity and profitability;
- increasing of competitiveness;
- reduced impact of industrial activities on the environment and the climate
- reduced losses in energy transportation and distribution;
- implementation of energy efficiency EU standards and best-practices;
- increased public awareness about energy efficiency;
- support of country's Gas Emanation Reduction and energy security goals.

Over the last decade Moldovan industry has achieved significant improvements in terms of energy efficiency and productivity but substantial economically attractive opportunities certainly remain. The International Energy Agency estimates in about 30% the average economically feasible energy savings in global industry; energy savings that would be mainly achievable through the wide dissemination and adoption of existing best-available commercial energy efficiency practices and technologies.

source AEE.md