Tetra Tech awarded $85m to support the Moldova power grid
Cathedral Park in Chișinău, Moldova. Image courtesy 123rf
Tetra Tech, a provider of consulting and engineering services in water, environment and sustainable infrastructure, has been awarded $85 million to integrate a BESS in Moldova to strengthen the country’s power grid infrastructure.
The funding comes courtesy of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to increase Tetra Tech’s single-award contract to strengthen energy security in the Republic of Moldova.
California-based Tetra Tech’s energy specialists will integrate what they call an innovative, utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) into Moldova’s electricity system to help strengthen Moldova’s national power grid and facilitate greater electricity trade with Romania, Ukraine and the broader European market.
In a release, Dan Batrack, Tetra Tech chairman and CEO commented: “Our energy experts will use Tetra Tech’s Leading with Science approach to improve the flexibility and stability of Moldova’s power grid.
“A stronger power grid will enable Moldova to deploy domestic renewable energy resources and open opportunities to join European energy markets, both of which are vital to the country’s long-term energy security and sustainable economic growth.”
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Moldovian energy security
The USAID’s boost in funding forms part of a larger initiative from Tetra Tech in support of the country’s energy system.
In 2022 USAID selected Tetra Tech to implement the four-year $60 million Moldova Energy Security Activity (MESA), building on Tetra Tech’s experience strengthening energy security in Europe and Eurasia.
MESA provides policy, infrastructure and science-based solutions to help Moldova power homes and businesses.
Under MESA, states Tetra Tech, connecting Moldova’s electricity system to the European grid was an important first step to catalyse a regional electricity market and support competitive procurement of cleaner energy.
Other objectives include boosting renewable energy production, enhancing climate change resilience and attracting investment in domestic power generation and energy efficiency.
According to Tetra Tech, Moldova historically has relied on neighbouring countries for energy, such as natural gas and electricity. As a result, gas and power supply shortages often force Moldovans to pay high prices for imported energy while domestic clean energy resources remain underutilised.
They add that, as Moldova is a major transit route for natural gas and its power system is closely integrated with Ukraine, improving its energy security is critical for both national sovereignty and regional stability.
