Armenia has a huge potential for the development of solar energy, which is of great importance for ensuring energy security and independence. "The technologies based on solar energy help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the country's energy independence" Khachik Sahakyan, the Director of Armenian Center for Green Technologies Foundation told to Ecolur.
In recent years new solar plants have been constructed in different communities of Armenia through various projects. Within the framework of "Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia" (LILA) project solar photovoltaic plants were constructed on the roofs of public buildings with a total installed capacity of 100 kW in Dsegh, Yeghegnut, Debed, Margahovit, Sevkar, Yenokavan, Vernashen, Gladzor and Shaghat villages. A solar water heater with a capacity of 300 liters was installed on the roof of the kindergarten in Shaghat. A ground-mounted 40-kW solar system was installed in Shatin settlement of Vayots Dzor province.
Shatin solar station
Shagat kindergarten
Vernashen kindergarten
As a result of all these measures annual carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by 100 tons, the annual budget saving will be around 10 million AMD.
The Mayor of Dsegh village, Garnik Hovsepyan said in his interview with Ecolur: "Through the installed solar system we heat the administrative building and all the rooms. I am sure that we will produce more energy by the end of the year”.
The mayor of Debed village, Anush Sargsyan, also mentioned that through the support of the project, a 15-kW solar plant was installed on the roof of the village hall. "This was a great support for our village, because it also supplies electricity to the street lights which span 70 % of streets. The budget savings will be spent for the development of other branches of the settlement," she noted.
A 20-kW solar plant was installed on the roof of Yenoqavan administrative building. According to the village mayor Andranik Chibukhchyan, the electricity produced by the station will be used for the day lighting of the administrative building and the streets of the village.
Anahit Gyulnazaryan, the Director of Sevqar medical center, noted: "The new system will help to save money. The flow of patients is high during wintertime, the service area is large. If the system produces more energy than we need, it can be used for other purposes. Not only for us, but also for the community."
Shatin, Hermon, Vernashen and Shaghat settlements received 6 mobile hybrid solar plants, each with an installed capacity of 2 kW, which can also be used in remote pastures. Khachik Sahakyan noted that the mobile solar plants developed by Armenian Center of Green Technologies foundation can be used to operate security systems and can ensure electricity supply in the mountains by operating in an off grid mode.
Mobile Solar Plant of Shaghat Agricultural Cooperative
Within the framework of LILA project, the roofs of administrative buildings were repaired and thermally insulated in the beneficiary settlements of Dsegh, Ahnidzor and Yeghegnut in Lori Province. These works are also aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Yeghegnut administrative building
Dsegh community hall
All these measures implemented within the framework of LILA project, along with providing budget savings, also contribute to mitigating climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Naire Yeritsyan, Project Coordinator, mentioned that the primary goal for LILA project is the environmental goal. "LILA project is an environmental project, and climate actions are usually part of such projects. The emphasis in our project is stronger, and climate actions and targets are part of our workplan and log frame and not a crosscutting issue. Off course, along with climate targets we also have budget saving as a social outcome and that creates additional motivation for our stakeholders” she mentioned.
September 12, 2024 at 12:41