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.