Armenia’s power engineers try to subdue wind, water and solar energy.
Armenia, which has no organic fuel resources, is paying more attention to the sphere of renewable energy. The main sources of renewable energy in Armenia are hydroelectric stations, then geothermal sources and also wind and solar power energy. Armenian nuclear power output makes up 40% of all energy generated in the country, gas – 37% and renewable energy – 23%.
Hydroenergy is called the most promising sphere of renewable energy in Armenia.
The deputy minister of energy and natural resources, Areg Galstyan said that two major APS cascades, Vorotanov and Sevano-Razdan, are going to be modernized. The building of new Megret APS on the Araks river is of significant importance. Other promising projects are the Loribed and Shnoкh APS in the north of Armenia. It is planned to finish building all three APS by 2025.
Geothermal sources are the other important sector of renewable energy.
“In comparison with other resources geothermal sources can be used over the long term regardless of season factors”, Galstyan said.
In 2005 as part of the Armenian and Iranian intergovernmental programme in Pushkinsky passage (in Lory region between Vanadzor and Stepanavan) the first wind power station in Armenia was build. Soon the Italian company Gierre will begin to build the second wind power station in Armenia in the north of the country.
The other significant project is bioethanol production and mixing this substance with gasoline to get transport fuel. This project, which probably will be carried out with the assistance of the US, can solve transport problems, begin job creation in the country-side, and decrease the level of energy independence.
Armenia possesses considerable advantages in the sphere of solar energy, because it is situated close to tropical zone. The significant part of its territory has favourable natural and climatic conditions enabling extensive usage of solar energy. However, there are no companies in Armenia that can produce solar photovoltaic arrays.
Almost all sources of renewable energy in Armenia are very promising, and with appropriate funding they can contribute to the power supply. For Armenia the usage of renewable energy resources and development of this sphere is about a decrease of dependence from imported fuel and increase of energetic security level of the country. “Renewable energy becomes one of the main bases of energy development in Armenia, which enables us to maximize energetic security level”, the minister of energy and natural resources, Armen Movsisyan, believes.
Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan, Exclusively for VК
