Armenia intends to completely replace natural gas with solar energy to meet internal demand. In this regard, the draft entitled "NATIONAL PROGRAM OF RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY SAVINGS FOR 2022-2030" says: "... the complete replacement of natural gas with solar energy in order to meet internal demand under the conditions of constant internal demand will require the construction of renewable (except hydropower) 700 MW power plants, considering that in the first half of 2021 about 150 MW power plants were already operating."
If large-scale power stations are currently planned, it is possible to achieve the planned 700 MW capacity together with the existing stations.
These stations are as follows:
· "Masrik 1" solar photovoltaic station with a capacity of 55 MW. According to the document entitled "Strategic Program for Development of Energy Sector of the Republic of Armenia (until 2040)", Masrik-1 solar photovoltaic plant with an investment cost of $ 60 million should be launched by July 2022. So far, however, the construction of this solar photovoltaic station hasn’t kicked off.
· "Ayg 1", "Ayg 2" solar photovoltaic stations with a total capacity of 400 MW. The companies will build these stations on a total of 1,040 hectares of land in Aragatsotn and Kotayk Regions. "Ayg-1" is planned to be put into operation in 2025.
· Small power plants - 48 stations with a total capacity of 197 MW, production by 2022 inclusive, according to the document entitled "Strategic Program for Development of RA Energy Sector (until 2040)".
Under the draft entitled "NATIONAL PROGRAM OF RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY SAVINGS FOR 2022-2030", in the structure of household energy consumption alone, the consumption of natural gas is 60.3% and the consumption of electricity is 18.2%. In general, about 50% of energy consumption is gas consumption for heating. Solar energy consumption in households accounted for only 0․5% of total energy consumption in 2019. In order to promote the use of electricity for heating purposes, the Government of the Republic of Armenia, in particular, plans to develop and implement a state support program for the introduction of modern heating systems (such as "heating pumps").
In order to reduce the demand for firewood in rural communities, the state policy will be aimed at promoting cooperation with the private sector of the communities in the implementation of programs for the development of solar, wind and biomass power plants.
By 2030, it is planned to build solar power plants with a total capacity of 1000 MW, increasing the share of solar energy production to 15% of the total. According to official estimates, these plants will produce 1.8 billion kWh of electricity. To achieve this goal, it is planned to launch 300 MW (1200 MWh) battery storage systems, which will significantly increase the safety and reliability of the power system.
Having a positive impact, the development of solar energy will also cause social, environmental problems and risks. However, nothing is written about these risks in the draft entitled "NATIONAL PROGRAM OF RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY SAVINGS FOR 2022-2030". There is no mention of the laws, regulations, obligations, obligations that should be followed by the builders and operators of solar stations.
Environmental and social impacts of solar energy development are as follows:
• Reduction of lands of mainly agricultural significance for the implementation of projects of solar photovoltaic stations, as a result of which the social situation of the population deteriorates, loss of income sources or loss of livelihood.
• Accumulation of waste generated during the operation of solar power plants in the environment, long-term soil pollution with solid photovoltaic waste, chemicals, compounds.
• Reduction of endangered species of natural plants and animals, including that of endemic and red-listed ones in places covered with solar panels.
• Decreased probability of natural habitat growth due to the presence of photovoltaic boards.
• Increase in the likelihood of flooding the catchment area during vegetation clearance of the proposed areas.
• Pollution of local water bodies by sediments caused by stormwater floods.
• The origin of severely localized geological damage due to the installation of transmission overhead lines.
• Changing the landscape of areas.
• Anxiety caused to the nearby population with the noise caused by the movement of vehicles and construction equipment during the construction phase.
February 28, 2022 at 16:11