Deputy Minister: Wind Power Engineering Development is one of the priorities for the improvement of the Armenia`s whole electric power network

ArmInfo. The Wind Power  Engineering Development is one of the   priorities for the  improvement of the Armenia's whole electric  power network , because   enables the opportunity for  diversification of the power sources,   Hayk Harutyunyan ,  the Deputy Minister of Energy Infrastractures and  Natural Resources said during his interview to ArmInfo. 

According to Harutyunyan, there is a essential interest existing in  respect to this issue. Many companies from   United Arabian Emirates,  Spain, Italy, China and Iran are interested in construction of Wind  Power Plants (WPP) in Armenia. The representatives of the companies  often visit Armenia, study the sites and locations,apply measuring  arrangements.  But not one of them gets to risk   to make the first  step yet. "The main problem will be the first investor, and after  that, I am sure, we will face no problems," the Deputy Minister  stated, and informed that a group of Iranian company of MAPNA is  going to visit Armenia in the nearest future. The group will initiate  site seeing for the construction of WPP. This visit will become the  second one. Recently the Company expressed willingness to build up  WPPs of 50 megaWatt power. 

Experts will undertake measuring and identification arrangements to  figure out all the available resources.  Similar works have already  been implemented previously, but there is a need to carry out the  appropriate works on the 80-1000 m sectors, to minimize possible  derivations in assessment calculations. The implementation of these  works currently is not available due to the weather conditions. At  the winter season Armenia will bear all the expenditures related to  obtaining licenses and permissions required, which will accelerate  the process and make available the construction of first wind towers  during March-April of the upocoming year. Then all the necessary  tests and measuring works will be arranged in one-year term, and only  after the Iranian Company will deal with   WPP design.

 "Hence, by the end of 2018-beginning of 2019 we will see the plant  in action," Haroutyunyan mentioned, accentuating that Armenia offers  very good conditions for investors. For example, a guaranteed  purchase of electric power for 20-year term, acceptable tariff, which  will secure the funds  return. Beside that, the regulatory framework  is precisely developed. .  "There are problems existing in respect to  logistics. For instance, there is a need to built a tote road, which  will need also an instant maintenance. There are some other issues  also, but we are able to solve those because our resources are  sufficient.  Following the Government Program, it is planned to   built up until 2020 TPPs with 200 mWt total power facility.  And this  project looks to be feasible, considering the interest we can see  now," Deputy Minister noted. 

To remind, according to the official information of the Armenia's  Natural Infrastructures and Natural Resources  Mnistry, in 2003 the   NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Company (USA) has  designed the map of the wind power resources of Armenia, according to  which the joint power of economically efficient WPPS is estimated at  around 450 mWt ,with a productivity of 1.26 bln kW/h in annual view.   A WPPs construction with a total power of 20 mWt is planned at the  area  mentioned.Within the appropriate project of TACIS a  technical-economical justification of WPP construction in the Sevan  lake area  has been  developed as well.