Moldova power market aligns with EU standards as trading surges
Moldova's wholesale electricity market is experiencing steady growth in traded volumes, signaling progress toward a competitive energy sector aligned with European Union standards.
On July 12, market participants traded over 1,113 MWh of electricity on the Day-Ahead Market (DAM) operated by OPEM. The transactions covered all 24 hours of July 13, accounting for roughly 9.2% of the country’s average daily consumption.
Ministry officials highlighted that the trading activity confirms market maturation and demonstrates closer integration with EU price-formation practices.
According to data released by the Ministry of Energy, the average trading price reached approximately €112/MWh. Meanwhile, the weighted average electricity price stood at roughly €60 (approx. 1,181 MDL) per MWh.
The vast majority of electricity—1,104 MWh—was traded during peak hours between 07:00 and 23:00 at an average price of 2,062 MDL (approx. €105) per MWh. Off-peak hours saw minimal volume, with only 9 MWh traded between 00:00–06:00 and at hour 24:00, averaging 2,726 MDL (approx. €139) per MWh.
The Ministry emphasized that market dynamics clearly reflect supply and demand fluctuations throughout the day. Between 11:00 and 16:00, when solar power production peaked, prices fell to around 1,000 MDL (approx. €51) per MWh alongside the day's highest trading volumes.
Conversely, between 19:00 and 24:00, driven by rising evening consumption and dwindling solar output, electricity prices surged more than threefold to 3,383 MDL (approx. €173) per MWh.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
