Gegharkunik Region is becoming one of the centers for the development of solar energy in Armenia. In Vardenis consolidated community, the largest load vests on “Masrik-1” solar photovoltaic station with a design capacity of 55 MW, which will be located in Mets Masrik village and occupy an area of 128 hectares. It is planned to build another 12 solar stations of medium power in Gegharkunik Region, not counting autonomous solar generators with a capacity of up to 500 kW. Hydropower is also developed.
Renewable Energy in Vardenis Community
Daranak SHPP (HEK SHIN CJSC), Tsovak SHPP (Armarson-Energy LLC), Airk-1 SHPP and Airk-2 SHPP (Lusakunq LLC) are operated on the territory of Vardenis Community. None of these SHPPs meet the standards, since RA Law “On Lake Sevan” is violated, which prohibits any activity that is inflicted on the ecosystem of the lake.
In particular, the natural reproduction of rare, endangered and endemic fish species in Lake Sevan, whose breeding grounds are the rivers flowing into the lake, is disrupted. These companies do not bear any social and corporate responsibility under signed contracts and issued licenses and do not observe the regimes most favorable for seasonal water intake.
As of October 1, 2021, solar stations will be built on the administrative territory of Vardenis Community in Gegharkunik, Armenia. Public Services Regulatory Commission has issued licenses for the development of solar energy to the following companies for the construction of solar stations in Vardenis Community:
1. ERVV Masrik CJSC, capacity - 55,000.0 kW, annual output - 147.45 min/kWh, investments - 27,345.5 million AMD, Gegharkunik, Mets Masrik Vardenis
2. MODUL SUN LLC, capacity - 3000.0 kW, annual output - 5.52 million kW/h, investments -1 071.0 million AMD, Gegharkunik, Mets Masrik, Vardenis.
Martuni Community
Along with the problems typical for the region - unemployment, population migration, lack of sufficient arable land and harsh climatic conditions, there are conflicts related to the distribution of water. Small hydropower plants operate in Martuni consolidated community, which take away water resources previously used for irrigation. Villages engaged in agricultural activities are under the influence of such small hydropower plants such as Argitchi - Madina, Nerqin Getashen, and Verin Getashen villages; “Dzoragyugh-1” and “Dzoragyugh-3” SHPPs - Dzoragyugh village; "Vardenik" SHPP - Vardenik village, "Martuni" SHPP – Martuni town.
Solar energy is also being developed in the community. Starting from October 1, 2021, State Public Services Regulatory Committee issued licenses for the construction of solar power plants:
1. "BARI AREV" LLC, capacity - 5000.0 kW, annual output - 8.58, investment - 1,516.8 million AMD, Astghadzor, Martuni Community,
2. "PROM SAN" LLC, capacity - 5000.0 kW, annual output - 8.60 million kWh, investment - 1,536.0 million AMD,
3. "AS ENERGY" LLC, capacity - 4,995.6 kW annual output - 8.50 million kWh, investment - 1,535.6 million AMD.
EcoLur’s team presented these data at the meetings in Martuni and Vardenis Communities in Gegharkunik Region: “A business that uses community resources, land, subsoil, and water, must be responsible to the population, to the community and to the state. Of course, we are supporters of renewable energy. However, many social and environmental problems remain unresolved,” EcoLur President Inga Zarafyan noted, “Mo one raises the issue of the regulatory framework that should be included in the development program for a specific energy sector.”
She noted that when granting permits or issuing licenses, there should be requirements for considering land and other natural resources and damage caused during operation. “Solar panels fail, but nowhere is there a word about who is responsible for managing this kind of waste, who is financially responsible, and what kind of burden communities may experience,” she said.
“We are told that the regulations will be adopted later. But we don’t know exactly when and for whom they will be accepted, if the stations are built now. This question should be asked by communities. The community should participate in this kind of public discussion, where the risks and mechanisms for managing these risks are clearly presented, financial, corporate, and any other responsibility for compliance with the norms for a healthy and safe life, the size and mechanisms for calculating compensation to communities are clearly presented,” she said.
Participants in the discussion, local residents reacted to the speech in this manner: “We didn't know anything about this… We know that the construction of Masrik 1 has been stopped…,” they said.
“Land resources used for solar energy must be properly valued. We propose to conclude agreements with businesses for the provision of social and environmental support, since after the operation of the stations, the arable layer of the earth can be destroyed. Therefore, it is necessary to think about the preservation of this layer, it is possible to create a fund for the reclamation of the territory in order to return the land to the community. The problem such as the disposal of used photovoltaic panels containing harmful compounds, zinc, strontium elements, semiconductors still remains.
There is neither a factory nor an organization for the rehabilitation or disposal of solar panels in Armenia. It is necessary to resolve the issue of financial responsibility for the disposal of panels. In response to the questions posed by us, state organizations say that solutions will be proposed when the relevant legislation is developed. That is, now, when granting permits and licenses, the state does not impose any responsibility on the company, whereas whenever there is legislation, we may already receive uncompensated damages, since not a single law has retroactive effect. Let's be careful with these issues so as not to be left with unsuitable lands,” she said.
Questions from local residents:
- How soon can the land be restored after operation?
- How is the compensation calculated which the company must pay to the population?
- Which experience can be used for land rehabilitation?
- Is there any supervisory body to control the process that takes place on the territory under the panels, in order to understand whether or not this land is still suitable?
- Are there any damage estimates, how much environmental damage is caused per square meter?
At the end of the discussions, the participants expressed the opinion that it is necessary to have answers to all questions and have norms for assessments.
March 14, 2022 at 09:46