ArmInfo. Solar photovoltaic power plants will be built in Armenia, the press office of the Armenian Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources has told ArmInfo.
According to the source, the project will allow the republic to reduce the dependence on the import of energy resources. Hayk Badalyan, Head of the Renewable Energy Department of the Ministry, says that in early 2017 an international consulting company will elaborate the relevant feasibility studies and tender packages, which will become a basis for formation of tariffs for solar power plants on a tender basis.
The consulting company has already selected 6 locations, where the solar photovoltaic power plants will be built. The surveys found it more expedient to build the solar power plants in Gegharkunik, Armavir and Aragatsotn provinces.
To recall, to develop solar power engineering, a program supporting Armenia in development of solar photovoltaic power engineering at the expense of the WB and GEF grants. The photovoltaic power potential was surveyed.
Earlier, Armenian Deputy Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources Areg Galstyan said that by 2025 solar power plants with a capacity of up to 70MW will be built in Armenia. No serious large projects have been implemented in Armenia in the field of solar power engineering so far. "With the support of the Asian Development Bank, at present the optimal equipment and location are being selected in the country to launch the solar power plants by 2025," Galstyan said. He added that the minimum tariff of that kind of electricity is 15 cents per 1kWh, which is quite a high indicator for large-scale use of such kind of alternative energy. "The Government is working to raise funds, which will allow reducing the tariff to 10 cents per 1 kWh. This will ensure the designed capacity by 2025," Galstyan said.