UNDP, with financial support from Italy,  and in partnership with the Ministry of Energy is launching a call to establish new renewable energy communities in our country. The call has a total budget of US$450,000, with support for each community ranging from $50,000 to $100,000, depending on the proposed technical solution and the community’s needs.

Of the total amount, $425,000 will be used to procure the equipment and technologies required to make the communities operational, while $25,000 will be allocated for technical assistance and capacity development. Applicants shall provide a co-financing contribution of at least 20 percent of the total project value.

To take part in the call, applicants shall form an initiative group of at least two prospective members, provide data on energy consumption and related expenditure for the previous 12 months, and identify a plot of land, rooftop or other suitable site for installing the equipment. Ownership or the legal right to use the site shall be secured for at least ten years from the date the system becomes operational.

The call encourages women’s involvement from the earliest stages of establishing the community, as well as their participation in its governance and decision-making processes. Women-led initiatives and those in which women have a clear and active role will be given priority. Projects benefiting energy-vulnerable consumers, including women-headed single-parent households and older women living alone, will also be encouraged.

Solutions that combine multiple technologies and address the community’s specific needs are encouraged. These may include energy storage systems, smart energy consumption management, renewable energy sources other than solar photovoltaic energy, or new models of cooperation among residents, local authorities and businesses.

Applications will therefore be evaluated based on their technical feasibility, cooperation among members, financial viability and potential to reduce costs, social impact, women’s involvement, innovative nature, and potential for the model to be replicated in other communities.

The call will be managed by Green City Lab Moldova, a CSO that will coordinate the information campaign, selection process and support provided to the selected communities. The selection process is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Find more details here. The application deadline is 28 October 2026.

Energy communities bring together residents, local public authorities, businesses and other entities that cooperate to produce, manage and use renewable energy. Their members can benefit from lower energy costs, while communities can reduce carbon emissions and strengthen their energy resilience.

Throughout 2026, UNDP, with financial support from Sweden and Norway, supported the establishment of four renewable energy communities that are already operational, while two others are in the final stages of preparation. The experience gained through these initiatives will support the development of new communities and the expansion of this model across the country.

Recently, the Government of the Republic of Moldova approved a draft law introducing a dedicated legal form for energy communities, making it easier for citizens, local authorities and businesses to join forces to produce, consume, store and manage energy collectively. The draft law was developed by the Ministry of Energy with support from Sweden, Norway, Italy and UNDP.