“You make an investment of USD 1500 and have free electricity for 20-30 years”

“A clear program is needed now, so that the time will come, when arriving in Armenia by plane, we could see from above solar panels, installed on all roofs,” Hayk Harutyunyan, Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of RA, told reporters today.

He stressed that they intend to create production on the consumption point, which, in his words, is much more valuable energy, and the best means for it is solar energy, “To implement this project comprehensive measures are necessary with the banking sector, in the legal and normative fields, activities of wide awareness, expansive work with mass media, so that everybody understood which benefits are observed from this project. I consider, in a short period we’ll be able to reach it, as we have diagnosed all the issues, we know exactly what to do and daily work is implemented with all the interested parties, so that this project is developed and implemented.”

According to H.Harutyunyan, the next project is construction of systemic solar stations, “Two weeks ago the Ministry of Energy proposed PSRC to define a tariff for solar stations up to 1 MW power, and that tariff should be equal to the one defined for wind energy. Realizing that this may be observed as a privileged tariff, we have restricted it to 1 MW, also realizing the resource of our good sun.”

He informed that already everyone may apply to PSRC, get a tariff and construct a solar station, and the state already will be obliged to buy that energy for 20 years pursuant the Law on Electricity, “We have made this step during this month, and soon the decision will be published, which will fix that tariff. The forthcoming steps will include: preparation of feasibility study and involving private investor.”

H.Harutyunyan stated that they also plan a tender for construction of a solar station with 50 MW capacity, “This will be a rather big project, and the tender will be defined for the tariff. We anticipate rather low tariff as a result of this field.”

According to the Deputy Minister they intend to reduce primary energy consumption by 38% until 2020, as their purpose is provision of energy independence.

“I installed a solar panel on the roof of my house, and it’s been 2.5 months that I’m consuming the energy produced by me. I urge you all do the same. Average consumption of our country is 200 KW p/h monthly for an apartment, it comprises 2400 KW p/h. To provide that you need 1.5 KW solar panel, it’s 5 panels, and price for 1 KW panel is average USD 1000,” the Deputy Minister said.

The Deputy Minister positively answered to the clarifying question of the reporter that for USD 1500 investment one may get free electricity for 20-30 years.

By Ani Keshishyan