Electricity sector in Armenia

Electricity sector of Armenia
Data
Installed capacity (2012)3213.2 MW[1]
Share of fossil energy22.00%[1]
Share of renewable energy40.11%[1]
Average electricity use (2014-15)5,352 GWh[2]
Distribution losses (2014-15)11.70%[a][2]
Transmission losses (2014-15)11.70%[b][2]
Consumption by sector
(% of total)
Residential24.20%[2] (2014-15)
Industrial18.60%[2] (2014-15)
Commercial and public sector12.50[2] (2014-15)
Institutions
Responsibility for regulationPublic Services Regulatory Commission of Armenia
Responsibility for policy-settingMinistry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources of Armenia
Responsibility for renewable energyArmenia Renewable Resources and Energy Efficiency Fund
Renewable energy lawThe Law of Armenia on Energy Saving and Renewable Energy, 2004[3]

The electricity sector of Armenia includes several companies engaged in electricity generation and distribution.[4][5][6] Generation is carried out by multiple companies both state-owned and private. In 2020 less than a quarter of energy in Armenia was electricity.[7]

As of 2016, the majority of the electricity sector is privatized and foreign-owned (by Russian and American companies), which is the result of a law passed in 1998 allowing for the privatization of electricity generation and distribution in the country. Administration, government legislation, and policy of the sector is conducted by the Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources of Armenia. Regulation of the sector is performed by the Public Services Regulatory Commission of Armenia.[8][9][10]

Armenia does not have any fossil-fuel reserves, so it relies on gas imports from Russia and Iran, and nuclear fuel imports from Russia, which, together, result in approximately 66% of electricity production.[10][11][12][13] Armenia is a net-producer of electricity and has exported in excess of 1.3 billion kWh per year since 2014[14][15][16] to Iran, Georgia, and Artsakh.[14][17][18]

Large investments have been made in the electricity sector in Armenia in the 2000s. These include the construction of the $247M combined-cycle Yerevan Thermal Power Plant completed in 2010,[19][20] a $52M loan from the World Bank in 2015 to improve the reliability of electricity distribution across Armenia,[21][22][23] and a $42M investment in 2016 by Electric Networks of Armenia to repair distribution networks.[24]

In June 2016, the Armenian Parliament updated the law “On Energy Saving and Renewable Energy” which encourages the use of solar power in the country and allows users of solar installations of 150 kW or less to sell their excess energy back to the electrical grid.[25][26]

The voltage in Armenia is 220 V AC at a frequency of 50 Hz. Armenia uses the European 2-pin C-socket and F-socket plugs.[27][28][29]

  1. ^ a b c "Analysis of Feed-In Tariff for Renewable Energy Resources in Armenia" (PDF). Armenia Renewable Resources and Energy Efficiency Fund. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference iea-cons was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Energy Saving and Renewable Energy - Legislation". National Assembly of Armenia. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  4. ^ "Companies of the system". Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources of Armenia. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  5. ^ "Energy System". Armenia Renewable Resources and Energy Efficiency Fund. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  6. ^ Danielyan, Emil (May 5, 2016). "Russian State Presence in Armenian Energy Sector Declining". EurasiaNet.org. EurasiaNet. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  7. ^ "Overview – Armenia energy profile – Analysis". IEA. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  8. ^ "Main Page". Public Services Regulatory Commission of the Republic of Armenia. Archived from the original on 29 July 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  9. ^ "Energy Sector Administration". Armenia Renewable Resources and Energy Efficiency Fund. Archived from the original on 6 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  10. ^ a b "Energetics". Export Directory of the Republic of Armenia. Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  11. ^ "Renewable Energy Roadmap for Armenia" (PDF). Armenia Renewable Resources and Energy Efficiency Fund (R2E2). p. 20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 May 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  12. ^ "Armenia, Iran Sign Deal to Increase Gas Imports, Power Flows". Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty. November 3, 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  13. ^ "Armenia-Iran Gas Deal 'Planned'". Asbarez. October 21, 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  14. ^ a b "Armenia exports over 1.4 billion kWh electricity in 2015". NEWS.am. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  15. ^ "Armenia can quadruple electricity exports to Iran, deputy minister says". ARKA News Agency. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  16. ^ "The World Fact Book - Middle East: Armenia". Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  17. ^ "Iran to treble gas exports to Armenia". Armenpress. 2 July 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  18. ^ "Armenia plans to increase volumes of exported energy". Armenpress. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  19. ^ "Yerevan Combined-Cycle Thermal Power Plant, Armenia". power-technology.com. Kable Intelligence Limited. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  20. ^ "Minister: Armenian government not planning to alienate Yerevan Thermal Power Plant". ARKA News Agency. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  21. ^ "World Bank Helps to Further Strengthen Power Supply Reliability in Armenia". The World Bank. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  22. ^ "World Bank to Loan Armenia $52 Million for Electric Substation Rehab". Hetq. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  23. ^ "Armenia to improve electronic communication network with World Bank's $52 million dollar loan". Armenpress. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  24. ^ "Electric Networks of Armenia's 2016 investment program is worth 20.1 billion drams". ARKA News Agency. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  25. ^ Vorotnikov, Vladislav (1 June 2016). "Legislative Reform to Promote Solar Energy in Armenia". Renewable Energy World. Archived from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  26. ^ "Armenia to allow using home solar panels and selling power excess to common network". NEWS.am. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  27. ^ "About Armenia - Electricity". Armenia Information. Archived from the original on 22 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  28. ^ "Armenia Adapters". Walkabout Travel Gear. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  29. ^ "Armenia Technical Information for Travelers". Voltage / Plug / Region - WPR. Retrieved 26 November 2016.


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