QAZAQ GREEN. The European Union has invested 500,000 euros through UNDP to install photovoltaic panels on the rooftops of five district hospitals. These hospitals are situated in the Florești, Nisporeni, Ștefan Vodă, Cahul, and Călărași districts.

This initiative is in response to the ongoing energy crisis in the Republic of Moldova and the substantial expenses faced by medical institutions. The project is expected to result in significant savings, potentially up to 50% on electricity costs. These saved funds will be redirected towards improving patient nutrition and enhancing their overall conditions.

Victor Pelin, the Acting Director of the Ștefan Vodă District Hospital, emphasized that the ultimate beneficiaries of this project are not just the hospitals but the 6,000 patients who receive medical assistance within the Ștefan Vodă district hospital annually. Furthermore, it is of great importance for medical institutions to adopt eco-friendly practices.

The installation of photovoltaic panels on these five hospitals is projected to produce 780 MWh of green electricity each year. It will also lead to an annual reduction of hospital expenses by over 20 million lei and cut down CO2 emissions by 437 tons annually.

Nadejda Ulinici, the Director of the Nisporeni District Hospital, shared that electricity powers all the medical equipment in their institution. With the arrival of the cold season, these panels will bring substantial benefits by reducing electricity expenses.

In Nisporeni, 242 photovoltaic panels with a capacity of 140 kW were installed. Ana Basoc, Head of the laboratory of the Nisporeni District Hospital, highlighted that electricity generated from the sun is exceptionally advantageous for the hospital, particularly as 80% of the equipment operates around the clock, including the emergency laboratory.

The installation of these photovoltaic panels received support from the "Addressing the impacts of the energy crisis in the Republic of Moldova" program, which is financed by the European Union and implemented by UNDP Moldova.

The program, with a budget of €13 million provided by the European Union, has facilitated the creation of the compensatii.gov.md platform and will launch a campaign to replace old household appliances with new energy-efficient ones. Additionally, it finances the installation of photovoltaic panels in households and various hospitals, as well as the transition to more efficient horizontal distribution systems in several blocks to enhance central heating systems.

Furthermore, the program extends its support to the incorporation of the EU's third energy package into primary and secondary legislation and the transposition of multiple directives and regulations from the "Clean Energy for All Europeans" package. These address various aspects, including energy-efficient building performance, renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, good governance, and electricity market design.