POTENTIAL FOR WIND ENERGY UTILISATION IN

THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

Todos Petru, Sobor Ion, Chiciuc Andrei

Technical University of Moldova

E-mail: todos@mail.utm.md, sre.utm@mail.md, chiciuc@mail.md

Abstract: UNO considers the process of climate change as one on the biggest problem the people
will have in the XXI century. This effect is determined by essential modifications which occur in
the atmosphere, changes which, in the last decade of the XX century, have achieved a dangerous
level for the normal rhythm of life evolution of the whole World. The article mentions the
possibilities of using the wind energy in the existing climate and economical conditions in the
Republic of Moldova, and as well of reducing the green house gases GHG emissions, the results of
producing the electrical and thermal energy.

1. Introduction In this limit situation we need to act

Technological progress of this century
based on big scientific discoveries declines
dynamism without future in the economic
and social life, in societys evolution. The
rhythm of economic development was
determined by the utilisation of fossil fuel
energy. Nowadays, we can see that these
fantastic progresses were at the same time
generated by the big problems existing in
the human history, till modern poque. The
civilization entered into direct conflict with
environment, with natural support of
personal existence and world life, not only
through exhausting the natural resources of
energy but in general through destroying
the quality of environment factors water,
air, soil.
The modern accelerated development
increases the pressure above the Nature
from which we remain dependent. New
forms of environment balances reducing
the ozone stratum of stratosphere and
warmly atmosphere began to damage
significantly the ecosystems, the
population health, etc.
urgently and radically and to avoid
eventual ecological crisis and to assure a
durable medium of development for future
generations. In the process of solving these
problems all countries will be implicated,
indifferently of their territorial dimension
or economic potential they have. Being a
house of all people around the world, the
Terra should be well-planned and protected
by common power.
In this work we will try to give arguments
of using the possibilities of wind energy
(renewable energy sources) in the climate
and economic conditions of the Republic
of Moldova and, to reduce GHG
emissions, the results of producing the
electrical and thermal energy, adding
solutions for other problems which keep
the assurance of energetical security of the
country.
2. History of wind energy utilisation.
The Republic of Moldova has such a
geographical placement that only some
areas on its territory benefit of favourable
winds for the development of the wind
energy system. The statistical data shows
that until the massif use of the stream
engines and the utilisation of those with
internal combustion the wind mills had an
extremely wide spreading on the territory
of the current Republic of Moldova. In
1901 there were attested 6208 wind mills,
distributed upon the counties in this way:
Bli 299; Chiinu 980; Tighina heights, the Ciuluc hills, the central
907; Soroca 371; Orhei 626 etc. Most
of the mills, of pyramidal type, were
stretched in a chain on the hills, many of
these mills ran also in the period between
those two World Wars.
During the 50es of the past century, in the
republic there were more than 350
mechanical wind installations, exclusively
destined to the pumping in the water
supply systems, and to the fodder
preparation at the collective agricultural
farmsteads. These were air-generators with
many blades and the nominal output of 6,2
horse powers (4.56kW) at the estimated
wind speed 8 m/s. They ran with enough
efficiency, being replaced gradually, in the
period of 1960 1964, by more convenient
and cheaper in the exploitation electrical
systems. The entire rural electrification,
that took place in this period, and the very
low prices for electricity excluded the wind
energy from the competition.
At present, only a few experimental wind
installations of light output run in the
republic, used for the production of
electricity in the autonomous conditions. In
the last decade, along with the ten times
increase of the price for the energy
resources, the interest in renewable energy
sources increased considerably, and its use
may increase in proportions in the
forthcoming future.
3. The implementing potential
At the actual level of development, the
commercial wind energy conversions limited area of locations with good
technologies, the locations that assure an
average yearly speed at the wind turbine
axes altitude of 7 m/s and more with the
specific wind energy higher than 350
W/m2. On these criteria it may be
concluded that the Republic of Moldova
has quite extended zones with a favourable
for energetic exploitation wind potential,
of which the most important are: the
Tigheci heights, the Nistru regions
tableland of Moldova, a great part of the
hills territory in Cahul and Taraclia
counties.
After some minute evaluations, perspective
locations may be emphasized also in the
considered favourable zones. That is some
predominant hills in the proximity of
accumulation lakes (Dubsari, Ghidighici,
Ialoveni etc).
The favourable conditions for
transportation and the relatively cheap
access to the public electrical network, in
the Republic of Moldova are ensued thanks
to the developed networks of roads and
electrical lines. The distances from the
eventual locations to the covered road are
at the most of 5 to 6km. An eventual
electrical line to couple the power plant
with the networks of 10 kV also will not
exceed the 5-10 km length. These factors
will allow the considerable diminution of
the necessary for the setting up of the wind
power plant's expenses.
Meteorologically, the most appropriate
lands for locations are the combs and the
slopes of the hills. These lands, usually
arid, with a reduced fruit-fullness, are less
favourable for the agriculture, serving only
for grazing. The price of these lands will
be minimal, and their restoration for
utilization will not need additional
expenses.
Considering the following circumstances -
the specific nature of the electrical load
distribution on the republic's territory, the
meteorological conditions and of the
grounds that may be withdrawn of the
agricultural circuit, and also the small
financial possibilities of the population - it
is considered that the WEPs with an
installed capacity of 10-15 MW will have a
larger spreading in the Republic of
Moldova. After a minute examination of
about 50 scenarios of equipping some
eventual WEPs with made by European
firms air-generators, it was concluded that,
in the Republic of Moldova's conditions,
the most efficient are the air - generators
with an installed capacity of 0.6 - 1.5 MW,
the specific nominal energy of 350 -600
W/m2 and the tower's height of 70 - 95 m.
The price for the energy produced at this
power plant is of about 5 cents/kWh, a
favourable economical price even at the
current price of delivering electricity to the
consumers. Where placement conditions
are most favourable, the price of the
produced by the power stations energy will
be of 4 - 4.5 cents/kWh.
4. Potential of reducing GHG through
using wind installations.
Each kWh of electricity produced at the
wind farm substitutes one kWh produced
at the thermo-electrical central plant after
firing some respective quantity of organic
fuel (coal, petrol or natural gas). In these
conditions it is easy to estimate pollutant
gas quantity evaded on the results of using
wind energy.
The Program of the Republic of Moldova
of RES implementing and the National
strategy for sustainable development guess
the covery of 2% from the total consume
of primary energy till 2010 after using the
wind energy, which consist about 130
thousands t.c.e. per year. Equal volume of
electric energy, corresponding to this
quantity of coal, we can consider, one year
the optimum specific consume,
characteristic for modern TPP (Thermal
Power Plant) of 0,35 kg. c.e./kWh consists
370 million kWh.
Replacing a part of electric energy
produced at thermal power plant with
energy produced at wind energy plant, we
obtain an appreciate medium profit with
evading over 260 thousands tones of RES
directly and about 2 thousands tones of
RES indirectly, inclusive SO2 and NOx,
which have very difficult impact on
population health, but through acidic
sediment it outcomes the degrade of
woods and agricultural plants. Damages,
causing by emissions of SO2 and NOx, are
appreciated to 6000 Euro/t .
Supplementary profit, avoid the mention
emissions, is estimated to 12,2 mln.
euro/year. Reducing the import of energy
recourses to a respective measure will
contribute to the increasing of security
energy of state. Implementing wind
energy plant will have as a consequence
the reducing waste pollutants (dust, smoke,
ect.) which have a difficult impact on
fauna and flora, it will favour to create also
the new places of job in rural medium.
5. Reducing potential emissions of GHG
through the wind energy implementing.
In order to implement the frame designed
with respect to electric energy production
at wind plants, amounting to 370 million
kWh/year (by 2010) it will be necessary to
build wind plants with a total installed
capacity of about 120 MW. It was
considered that air-generators with 0,6-2
MW nominal power with the height of the
tower of 70-90 m will be used, in order to
guarantee, under the location on the
territory of the republic (utilization
coefficient of installed power ku=0.35)
As per computations, done through the
general methodology used for such energy
objectives, total investment equal about
120-150 million USD are required or
specific capital investments equal to 1000-
1250 USD/kWh, including the cost of air-
generators, constructions of civil and
electric infrastructures, expenses for
transportations, setting-up, and putting into
operation. In calculations were considered
as actual term the duration of life the base
devices T=20 years.
6. Conclusion
8. Acknowledgement
The authors are very grateful to the
Supreme Council for Science and
Technological Development for the kind
support of the research activity in this area.

Not only the priorities regarding the

environment protection but also the
advantages in the social sector giving by
energy based on renewable energy source
opens new perspectives for these
modalities of producing energy.

Concept of a new energetic system,

corresponding to XXI century, can
contribute to restore a balance
unfortunately, neglect between energy,
mans prosperity and environment. The
energy shouldnt be treated as a thing
which must be consumed indifferent of
consequences. The energy must valorise in
mans job, but in such ways, which do not
interact into the relations between society
and environment. Only in this way we will
prevent the ecological catastrophes, which
can provoke the decadence of civilization,
who didnt appreciate the value given by
nature.

7. Bibliografy

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[2] Todos, P., Sobor, I., Ungureanu, D.,
Chiciuc, A., Pleca, M., , Renewable
Energy: Feasibility Study, CartDidact,
2002, Chiinu, 2002.
[3] *** Technology Needs and
Development Priorities: Report elaborated
under the United Nations framework
convention on Climate Change.,
CartDidact, Chisinau, 2002.