Monday, May 7 2018 14:06

ArmInfo. In 2018, 7 new system  solar power stations with a total installed capacity of 10 MW will be  commissioned in Armenia. Acting Deputy Minister of Energy  Infrastructures and Natural Resources Hayk Harutyunyan wrote on his  Facebook page on May 7, summing up the results of the work done.

According to him, the government of the country attaches importance  to the implementation of programs to create its own sources of  generation, including generation from solar energy facilities. And if  in 2016 there were no connections to the network at all, then in 2017  there was a take-off. Only last year 211 solar stations were  connected to the network, as well as three system solar plants. As of  May 2018, 315 solar stations with a total installed capacity of 5.2  MW have been connected to the network, 85 more are in the process of  construction and connection.

Previously acting Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural  Resources of the Republic of Armenia Ashot Manukyan informed that the  first experimental accumulation station with a capacity of 14 MW will  be put into operation in Armenia in the coming months thanks to which  it will be possible to accumulate electricity produced from solar  energy facilities. According to him, the solar energy of Armenia has  an inexhaustible potential, the problem is only in the possibility of  accumulating electricity produced from it.  "There comes night, and  there is no energy, and in the morning it appears, therefore we need  accumulation facilities," Manukyan said, adding that solar energy  facilities up to 70 MW do not carry risks, from 70 to 110 MW - medium  risks, but more 110 MW risks are big. Without the accumulation  systems, it is possible to increase the production of electricity to  150 MW, but modern technology is required for large volumes.  In  addition, there are questions concerning the possibility of building  small or large stations, build them with or without accumulation,  accumulate stations to be built centrally or separately. In the case  of a positive result from the first accumulation station, licenses  for the construction of solar stations will be issued in unlimited  quantities. He recalled that until the end of 2016, the share of  alternative energy in the total electricity produced in the country  was less than 1%. Then in Armenia there were only 2 wind stations.  And only in 2017 work began on the development of solar energy. 11  licenses for the construction of solar power stations up to 1 MW have  already been provided, of which 3 have been built, and 7 are under  construction.  According to the Concept of Energy Security of  Armenia, by 2020 renewable sources will cover 20% of all energy  consumed in Armenia, and by 2026 - all 50%. The government plans to  reduce energy consumption by 38% and, accordingly, energy costs until  2020. In Armenia, all conditions have been created for the  installation of solar power plants. Not only are licenses not  required, but the entire process is exempt from taxes.