Romania and Moldova launch market integration project
Market coupling facilitates cross-border trade
In early October 2024, representatives from the Romanian and Moldovan energy sectors met in Bucharest to launch a significant project to integrate the countries’ electricity networks. This integration—called “market coupling”—will make it easier and cheaper for Moldova and Romania to trade energy with each other and with other parts of Europe.
With support from the USAID U.S.-Europe Energy Bridge and the USEA Just and Secure Energy Transition program, regulatory authorities are working in parallel with transmission system operators from both countries and a power exchange to discuss the additional steps needed to achieve market coupling.
To pave the way for successful integration, energy institutions in Moldova have been following Romania’s guidance and making changes to their internal operations in accordance with European Union rules and laws.
Easier cross-border energy trade increases energy security and decreases reliance on Russian-supplied energy. Market coupling also attracts investment: renewable energy investors are more confident investing in integrated markets because they provide price transparency.
Currently, Southeast Europe’s energy markets—including Moldova’s—are small, they rely on aging fossil fuel-based power plants, and they depend on a small number of energy suppliers. But countries that expand and integrate their electricity markets with their neighbors and with the EU are able to work together to transition to clean energy.
