ArmInfo. The energy system of Armenia is able to receive only 70 MW of electricity from solar energy facilities of the country. The Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources of Armenia Ashot Manukyan stated this at a press conference in Yerevan on February 20.
According to him, solar energy is an inexhaustible source of energy, but the lack of accumulating devices in Armenia does not allow full implementation of this program. In this connection, in Yerevan, the latest developments of Australian specialists are being closely studied, they intend to build solar energy facilities with a total capacity of 100 MW with the use of accumulating devices. If the program is successful and its price is acceptable, the use of Australian experience in Armenia is also possible. The Minister noted that today it is possible to gird Armenia's entire network of solar power plants, but without accumulating the cost of electricity produced from these generation facilities will be equated to the price of gold, since at night there can be no talk of any electricity generation by solar power plants. Hrazdan thermal power plant can be used at night in Armenia, the cost of electricity with which is the highest in the country.
It is for this reason that the government of the Republic of Armenia decided to build a solar power plant of industrial importance in the place "Masrik" with a total installed capacity of 55 megawatts, issued 11 licenses for the construction of 10 photovoltaic stations with a total capacity of 10 MW. "Thus, we can build solar stations with a maximum of another 5 MW," A. Manukyan said. As for the power plant "Masrik", the results of the tender for its construction will be known in a few months.
As ArmInfo informed earlier, 10 companies and one consortium overcame the prequalification stage of the tender for the construction of a solar power station MasRik-1 in Armenia. The evaluation commission made a similar kind of decision. According to Deputy Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources Hayk Harutyunyan, the remaining 10 packages of the contest participants did not meet the presented conditions. In the second stage of the competition, companies from the Netherlands, the USA, Korea, Germany and a number of other countries took part. All represented companies are known in the international energy market. This is TBEA Xinjiang Sunoasis Co., Ltd, China - Subsolar Energy Holding LLC, the Netherlands, Phelan Energy Group Limited, South Africa - Korea Electric Power Corporation, Shapoorji Pallonji Infrastructure Capital Company Private Limited, India - Risen Energy Co. Ltd. Limited, China, Metka, Greece -Energy Phoenix, Lebanon, Access Infra Central Asia Limited, UAE - Eren Renewable Energy SA, France - TSK Electronica, Spain, Fotowatio Renewable Ventures BV, Netherlands, -FSL Solar SL, Country: Spain, Acciona Energia SAU, Spain, Building Energy Development Africa, Italy - H1 Holdings (Pty) Ltd, South Africa, Sky Power Global, Cayman -Enerparc Projects GMBH, Germany, CountourGlobal LP, Cayman Islands). "At the second stage, the prequalified companies will compete with each other around the price offers, the ministry will give its preference to the company or to the consortium that will present the lowest and most competitive price offer," said Hayk Hartyunyan, adding that the second stage of the competition will be announced in September of the year. The entire tender process will be completed early next year and construction of a 55 MW solar power plant will commence. It is expected that in early 2018 the station will begin to generate electricity. Recall that the total cost of the program for the construction of solar power plants in Armenia is $ 129 million. Feasibility studies have already been prepared for the construction of solar power plants with a capacity of up to 100 megawatts. Within the framework of the program it is planned to build solar power stations with a capacity of up to 110 megawatts in various regions of Armenia. Of the 6 surveyed areas in two, the Spanish consulting company Aries Engineering has already submitted feasibility studies. They relate to the localities of "Masrik" in Gegharkunik region and "Dashtadem" in Aragatsotn region, studies on the remaining four localities continue. One of the main conditions of the contest will be the tariff offered by investors. The advantage will be the company that offers the minimum tariff. The climate investment fund for the development of alternative energy provided Armenia $ 28 million, of which $ 2 million - a grant and $ 26 million - a loan. The loan terms are soft - 0.25% per annum with a maturity of 40 years and a grace period for payments in the first 20 years.
Grant funds are being used to study the localities, develop a feasibility study for the project, calculated at a station of 100-120 megawatts of capacity.