Turkey is considering setting up floating power plants in ports in Moldova and Romania. Infrastructure ministry evaluates risks
Locating floating power plants in ports in Moldova and Romania would be a quick source of electricity supply for our country and Ukraine. Plants with a capacity of 500 megawatts could be installed by a Turkish company with a fleet of 36 ships. The authorities in Chisinau, however, say that this creates risks, which need to be considered, and that all technical constraints for the location of the ships need to be assessed.
Given that a third of Ukraine's energy system is affected by bombardments, Ukrainian authorities are looking for new solutions to meet electricity needs, said Constantin Borosan, state secretary for energy at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development. The official told Radio Moldova that such large-capacity power plants, with a capacity of 500 megawatts, could provide more than half of Moldova's electricity needs, but there are risks and certain technical and environmental constraints for their location that need to be assessed.
"Solutions are currently being sought, such as this floating barge solution, which would be anchored off the coast of Ukraine to supply electricity. Wherever this element is anchored, it is a sensitive piece of information when there is war in the neighbouring country and critical energy systems are under attack. Certain constraints need to be assessed. Firstly, the fuel that is used to produce electricity, everything that is involved in crossing the Danube channel and continuously fuelling this barge. Then there are grid constraints. Last summer, the Danube was at its lowest possible level."
Turkey and Ukraine are planning to implement a floating power plant project. Options for locating energy vessels near the coasts of Moldova and Romania are being considered as part of the cooperation.
Floating power plants are large vessels that burn liquefied natural gas, low-sulphur fuel oil or biodiesel to produce electricity. They connect the on-board power plant to a shore power station and require about a kilometre of cables before they become operational.
The Turkish company argues that its vessels are able to supply electricity at a price of between 20 and 25 euro cents per kilowatt hour. Because of the energy crisis in Europe, the institution says it has received applications for floating power plants from almost all countries.
