Ministry of Energy: Up to 1 mWt capacity solar energy plants tariff  set in Armenia

ArmInfo. The Public Services regulation commission (PSRC) published the tariff for up to 1 mWt capacity solar electric plants.  This decision is not concerned to solar units with up to 150 kWt capacity, Hayk Harutyunyan, the Deputy Minister of Energy Infrastructure and Natural resources stated on November 5.

According to him, tariffs  for independent solar plants mounted by persons and legal entities for own needs, are subject to be regulated by the Law on Energy  Saving and Renewable Energy, according to which, beside satisfying own needa, the owners of such stations could sell energy to the Electric Networks of Armenia, getting the 50% cost reimbursement.

To remind, Hayk Harutyunyan, the Deputy Minister of Energy Infrastructure and Natural Resources of Armenia, at the press conference held in Yerevan on November 23 stated that solar panels up to 1 Mw power capacity may be installed in Armenia As Harutyunyan reminded, two weeks ago the Ministry submitted a proposal to the Public Services Regulating Commission to set a tariff for up to 1 mWt capacity solar power units. According to Deputy Minister, this tariff should be equal to that of the wind energy. At the same time, understanding that it could be accepted as a preference tariff setting for vendors, because it is high enoughwithin the consideration of technologies getting cheaper, Ministry of Energy decided to restrict it with 1 mWt.  Following Deputy Minister, all the appropriate preconditions for investors will be set forth. Potential investors may apply to PSRC top set the tariff and to rise solar units. And the state will bear an obligation to buy the energy produced during 20 years.

To remind, the actual tariff for the wind power plants is set in Armenia at AMD 42,645 per 1 kW/h without VAT (VAT forming  AMD 51,2 or 10,7 cents).

Earlier in his interview to ArmInfo Hayk Harutyunyan stated that for implementation of this project is is important to have a large area for balancing the production and consumption, to decrease a negative impact of the varying energy. Along with the development of the network the tariffs will be also revised.  The second stage will be the construction of a larger solar plant. This process was launched in 2014 but active work has started recently.  Climate Investment Fund for Development of Alternative Energy has provided $28 mln to Armenia, from which $2 mln are grant funds and $26 loan. The loan terms are quite soft-0.25% annual interest rate with 40 years term and 20 years of grace period. The grant funds are used for studying the locations, developing feasibility study of the project for building stations with 100-120 MW capacity.  Relevant framework is being prepared including legal and normative acts, assessment of influence on nature. Currently 6 projects have been developed, which will be put to tender. The winner will be the one who offers the lowest tariff. Sub-loan agreement will be signed with the winner. The tender will be announced in the beginning of the next year.