Solar power in Armenia

Solar panels at Armenian National Agrarian University, Yerevan

Solar energy is widely available in Armenia due to its geographical position and is considered a developing industry. In 2022 less than 2% of Armenia’s electricity was generated by solar power.[1]

The use of solar energy in Armenia is gradually increasing.[2] In 2019, the European Union announced plans to assist Armenia towards developing its solar power capacity. The initiative has supported the construction of a power plant with 4,000 solar panels located in Gladzor.[3]

Solar power potential in Armenia is 8 GW according to the Eurasian Development Bank.[4] The reason for this is that average solar radiation in Armenia is almost 1700 kWh/m2 annually.[5] One of the well-known utilization examples is the American University of Armenia (AUA) which uses it not only for electricity generation, but also for water heating. The Government of Armenia is promoting utilization of solar energy.[6][7]

In 2018 the amount of solar power produced in Armenia increased by nearly 50 per cent. Government figures show that Armenia's solar power average is 60 per cent better than the European average.[1]

In March 2018 an international consortium consisting of the Dutch and Spanish companies won the tender for the construction of a 55 MW solar power plant Masrik-1. The solar power station is planned to be built in the community of Mets Masrik of the Gegharkunik region entirely at the expense of foreign investments. The expected volume of investments in this generation facility will be about $50 million. Construction of the plant was expected to be completed by 2020.[8] In May 2019 the deadline for start of financing the Masrik-1 solar power plant  construction project has been extended by 198 days.[9]

  1. ^ "Armenia - Energy". www.trade.gov. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  2. ^ "Արևային-կայանների-կիրառումը" (PDF). gea.am (in Armenian). Green Energy Association. August 2016. Retrieved 2016-12-11.
  3. ^ "EU boosts eco-tourism and renewable energy in Armenia with new solar power plant - EU Neighbours east".
  4. ^ "Eurasian Development Bank to finance 11 solar power plants in Armenia". ceenergynews.com. 2022-08-19. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  5. ^ "Solar Energy". Ministry of Energy of Armenia. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  6. ^ "Legislative Reform to Promote Solar Energy in Armenia". Renewable Energy World. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  7. ^ "Solar Heating and Cooling in Armenia". Inforse-Europe. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  8. ^ "Solar power plant Masrik-1 to build a consortium of Dutch and Spanish companies". finport.am. Retrieved 2018-04-12.
  9. ^ "Deadline for start of financing the Masrik-1 solar power plant construction project has been extended by 198 days". www.finport.am. Retrieved 2019-05-04.