Tuesday, November 19 2019 13:58

ArmInfo.On November 19, Yerevan hosted the presentation of the plan for the development of  the Armenian energy system for 2020 - 2036 with minimal cost. The  document was developed jointly with USAID as part of a program to  liberalize and trade electricity.  Presenting the project, Deputy  Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures of the  Republic of Armenia Hakob Vardanyan noted that the document presents  ways to provide reliable and stable energy supply at the most  affordable prices for consumers, to realize the potential of  renewable energy and energy efficiency.

He stressed that the plan presents all possible scenarios for the development of the country's  energy system and the direction of providing consumers with  affordable electricity. According to him, the Ministry of Territorial  Administration and Infrastructures and the Commission for the  Regulation of Public Services are involved in the development of the  document, which provide the necessary data for study with a view to  further reforming the system.

In turn, the head of the USAID mission in Armenia, Deborah Griser,  emphasized that, based on the studied scenarios, the RA government  will have the opportunity to analyze various options to strengthen  energy security and independence of the country. "The plan presents  the simplest and most comprehensive way for reliable and stable  energy supply at the most affordable prices for consumers. This is an  example of how the chosen policy can affect the investment structure  in the energy sector of Armenia. The application of the plan can not  only contribute to diversification in the energy sector, but also to  deepen the interaction of Armenia and Georgia, "said Deborah Geezer.

Earlier in an interview with ArmInfo, Hakob Vardanyan noted that the  new Energy Development Strategy of Armenia for 2020-2036. should be  understandable and accessible not only to specialists, but also to  the general public. But most importantly, the deputy minister  emphasized, it should be realistic and unloaded.  The new Strategy is  based on components that relate mainly to the electric power  industry. The document will consist of several chapters. The first  chapter, for example, is devoted to generation - which objects should  be built, which should be built up and which should be left at the  same level. The second chapter is devoted to issues related to the  electricity transmission system, the third - energy efficiency.  Another chapter will be devoted to institutional issues related to  market liberalization and filling in existing legislative gaps. At  the same time, based on forecasts, all factors and possible risks  will be taken into account. For example, solar energy, which is an  inexhaustible source of energy, can in the future occupy 50-60% of  the country's energy balance. Today there is an opportunity to bring  the capacity of solar power plants to 400 MW. But for their effective  functioning, especially during the construction of large solar power  plants of industrial importance, an accumulating station will be  necessary, because by evening, when the possibilities of this type of  generation are sharply reduced, there will be a need to replenish  these volumes.

Constantly turning on and off thermal energy facilities in this  situation is practically impossible. The third 400-kilovolt  Iran-Armenia power transmission line under construction can play a  role in this process, as well as the project for the construction of  the fourth 400/500-kilovolt Armenia-Georgia power transmission line,  for which a lack of capacity can be provided. In this case, in the  daytime, surplus electricity can be sent to Iran, and in the evening  to receive back. But with the intensification of projects in the  field of alternative and renewable energy after a certain period of  time, say, after five years, there will be a need for the  construction of an accumulation station. Moreover, Vardanyan noted  that modern technologies in this type of energy have advanced  significantly. If a few years ago it was necessary to invest $ 2  thousand per 1 kW of solar generation, today this figure has dropped  to $ 600- $ 700. All these issues are reflected in the new Strategy.