Moldova Cuts Red Tape for Rooftop Solar and Heat Pumps

Moldova has overhauled its permitting rules for clean energy installations, removing a significant bureaucratic hurdle for homeowners, residential building associations, and businesses looking to deploy solar panels, heat pumps, and battery storage systems.

Under the previous framework, owners of small-scale generation systems had to obtain both a construction permit and an urban planning certificate before installation could begin. The newly adopted legislation eliminates those requirements in a defined set of circumstances — specifically for equipment mounted on rooftops and building facades, including apartment blocks and standalone houses.

Energy storage installations benefit from the same streamlined approach. The exemptions extend further to photovoltaic parks and sites where energy infrastructure already exists or is under active construction. For projects located outside urban boundaries, the law also trims the volume of required project documentation. Moldova’s Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Infrastructure jointly drafted the changes with the stated aim of reducing time and financial costs for consumers while bolstering national energy security.

Protections for Moldova’s architectural heritage remain in force. Installations in historical and protected zones still require sign-off from the relevant authorities, and mounting panels directly on individually designated heritage monuments is prohibited outright.

The reforms come as Moldova registers record solar growth. According to pv magazine, the country brought 315 MW of new solar capacity online in 2025, lifting its total installed renewable generation base to 980 MW — a milestone that underlines why simplifying the permitting pathway has become a policy priority for Chișinău.

Source: PV Magazine