The training program was implemented by the Technical University of Moldova in partnership with the National Center for Sustainable Energy (CNED) with the support of UNDP and the Government of Denmark.
Energy auditing in the transport sector is a new field for Moldova, in contrast to construction and industry, where such specialists are already active. To date, energy audits in the transport sector have not been carried out.
“The need arose with the emergence of new regulations obliging large companies to conduct energy audits. These companies own not only buildings, but also complex technological processes and extensive vehicle fleets. Therefore, it is important for energy auditors to have a full understanding of all these components in order to comprehensively assess energy consumption,” said Irina Tserigradyan, Head of the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Policy Compliance Department at CNED.
In addition to the legislative framework, the need to train auditors in this area is driven by economic and environmental realities. The transportation sector accounts for approximately 30% of final energy consumption in Moldova and is one of the main sources of pollutant emissions.
“There are currently more than 1.3 million vehicles registered in Moldova, and their energy consumption is influenced by many factors, from the type of fuel and the technical condition of the vehicle to the infrastructure and even the color of the body. This is an open, dynamic system with more than 50 variables operating simultaneously. Therefore, assessing energy efficiency in this area requires a rigorous and well-founded approach, which we have sought to develop in this course,” explained Valeriu Lungu, Associate Professor at TUM and course instructor. In addition to the theoretical course, the participants of the training analyzed various practical examples, and at the end of the course they prepared an energy audit report.
According to the Electronic Register of Energy Auditors, maintained by CNED, there are currently registered:
-108 auditors in the category of buildings;
-59 in the industry category;
-34 in the field of transportation.
This is made possible by completing a master’s program in energy and environment, or taking specialized courses like this one.
UNDP and development partners have previously supported efforts to strengthen the energy efficiency sector. A training of trainers program for energy auditors in the industrial sector was conducted with EU funding. Equipment for training students and future energy auditors was also donated to TUM. In addition, with Danish support, two training courses for energy auditors in the industrial sector were organized this year with 29 participants.
The EU and UNDP also supported energy audits of 25 apartment buildings in Chisinau, Balti, Straseni and Ceadir Lunga, several private houses and six district hospitals. These surveys laid the groundwork for energy efficiency projects, resulting in improved living conditions for residents and patients, as well as lower utility costs.
