Empowering Moldova's energy autonomy with circular recovery systems
“A society is defined not only by what it creates, but by what it refuses to destroy.” – J.C. Sawhill.
With current inflation and reliance on imported energy, countries need solutions for energy autonomy. Waste-to-energy processing offers numerous advantages including the production of construction materials, power to the national grid, new local jobs and less reliance on destructive landfill sites.
Goals of the project
In 2022, we were tasked with the management and funding of a circular recovery project supporting Moldova’s transition to a sustainable economy, reducing environmental pollution and recovering valuable resources lost to landfill.
We knew that the market in Moldova was evolving. The nation now encourages sustainability by offering finance options for developers who construct certified buildings. It is therefore advantageous to provide local circular manufacturing operations with greater access to wider investment options. In this way, Moldova can bridge the trade gap with local supply and create valuable new jobs within the green sector.
Our solution
Polymath & Boffin was engaged as an Investment Advisor, responsible for conducting the required research, product development, and structuring business plans for each opportunity in collaboration with industry experts. The resulting business proposals were aimed at securing a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the government.
Transforming waste into energy, jobs and new materials
The project sponsor, I&M International Limited, is a youthful organisation tackling modern problems with contemporary perspectives. The project offers multiple benefits, as Ivan Stanisavljevic, I&M International’s operational and HR Director, explains:
“I&M offers expertise in developing and structuring waste management projects working with leading engineering partners. We maximise resources in countries seeking to rapidly develop their sustainability practices. For Chisinau in Moldova, our company is proposing to convert waste into building materials and energy, using gasification processes designed by renewable energy engineers. We can significantly reduce the dependence on landfill, lower municipal costs, create materials for construction as well as jobs, and help Moldova power the energy grid with its own resources, instead of importing them.
“We believe that waste should not be seen as a problem but as a resource that can be used to produce clean energy. By choosing our solutions, towns can reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future. The solutions we offer are designed not only to minimise the impact on the environment, but to create positive revenue streams from recycling.”
Towards a circular economy
As a leading specialist in decarbonisation and energy transformation, UK-based IEP, (Industrial Energy Pioneers Limited), was selected to support the gasification waste management and energy recovery plant installation. Polymath & Boffin has worked with IEP for over a decade on waste management and treatment innovations. Gasification was chosen as it offers a versatile treatment technology with significant advantages. It can process a wide range of waste materials, including municipal solid waste, biomass, plastics, and tyres, allowing for the recycling and reuse of diverse waste streams. In Chisinau, the system enables the extraction of valuable resources from waste, such as converting organic materials into syngas, which can be further processed into chemicals, fuels, and electricity, diversifying the energy mix and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
As a direct result of gasification, the volume of waste sent to landfills can be greatly reduced, conserving valuable space and minimising GGH (greenhouse gas) impacts such as methane emissions from sites (methane has a greater ability to trap heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide). Furthermore, gasification yields useful materials.
“The gasification process produces a residue, which can be transformed into components in the production of cement, concrete, and other construction materials”, Ivan Stanisavljevic adds. “This means we can offer an additional dimension to the recycling potential of our project as it not only diverts waste from landfills but also creates valuable materials that can be used in infrastructure development and building projects, even creating new jobs. Our solution will promote the circular economy”.
Environmental innovation for resilience
Polymath & Boffin understands how to facilitate the shift towards a more resilient and sustainable economy with healthier built environments and zero carbon growth. This is a platform upon which we can develop new markets and restructure business models for healthy and responsible returns.
Polymath & Boffin CEO Christopher Vella summarises:
“The Chisinau project and partnership will lead to sustainable economic and environmental gains. We aim to facilitate independent energy production while radically reducing landfill waste and transport costs for the municipality. Our solution will generate jobs in operation and in the downstream industry of construction materials. The combination of these factors will undoubtedly enhance the profile of Moldova’s EU sustainability credentials. In addition, the effectiveness of the development and its timely implementation will attract further investments to the area.
“Polymath & Boffin is an ardent supporter of initiatives of this kind, and we passionately believe in innovation driven by leadership, vision, and affirmative values. The I&M International project aligns perfectly with our own guiding principles”.
The benefits for Moldova
By harnessing the power of recycling, these innovative technologies offer a sustainable path towards economic prosperity, environmental preservation, and a greener society. With each gasifier in municipal operation, we move closer to a world where waste is transformed into valuable resources, where energy is generated responsibly, and where hope for a better tomorrow is ignited.
In summary, our project will liberate the following benefits:
Accelerating Moldova's current European sustainability ratings by lowering emissions and reducing pollution in local environments.
Transitioning Moldova towards autonomous energy generation and encouraging transition to a green economy.
Creating jobs and green skill sets for future economic growth and attracting new investment and opportunities for EU project funding.
Providing local supply chains with resilience from new revenue streams and boosting ESG gains for municipalities.
Supporting the construction industry with a long-life CDW management system and making commercial entities more responsible.
Introducing local sustainable products to the market and reducing the exportation of local currency.
Generating metrics on recovered materials for the Moldovan Ministry and pioneering change with innovative monitoring and reporting tools.
Polymath & Boffin is a knowledge equity investor, a visionary, and a creator of bespoke commercial solutions. Our mission is to connect investor capital with innovative product and commercial opportunity, establishing an ecosystem of commerce for both investee and investor, one which thrives on an alignment of interest between all development partners.
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