Talin community, uniting 33 settlements of Aragatsotn Region, is in the risk zone of desertification and is highly vulnerable to climate change.
Currently, Talin community has taken a new path of development - solar energy. It is planned to build the largest 200MW "Aig 1" solar photovoltaic power plant in Armenia with public-private cooperation. However, the program is not going smoothly.
The Arab "Masdar" company implementing the project planned to put the plant into operation at the end of 2024, now promises at the end of 2025. As it became known recently, ANIF is being dissolved, however, according to the official response, this will not hinder the implementation of "Aig 1" project.
Ecolur studied Talin community's energy and environmental issues, as well as development opportunities. The studies were summarized in "Problems and measures of implementation of energy and climate resistance policy in Talin community, Aragatsotn Region" information module. The module was discussed in Talin during the meeting with local government representatives and local residents.
Studies have shown that Talin community does not fully participate in decision-making processes in the climate and energy sectors and cannot fully protect its interests. For example, the community lost 547.31 hectares of land in the framework of "Aig 1" project for disproportionate compensation. In addition, the amount of economic benefit and potential damage of the community's long-term use of the lands donated for "Aig-1" project has not been assessed.
The solar plants are built mainly on the pastures of the agricultural lands of the community, changing the purpose and operational values of the lands. "We proposed to the Armenian government to prescribe exceptions in the process of changing the land category," EcoLur’s expert Roza Julhakyan outlined.
There is energy poverty in Talin.
The representatives of Talin Local Municipality mentioned that the development of renewable energy is encouraged in the community, solar panels are installed on municipal buildings within the framework of subsidy programs. However, there are no plans for residents. The locals mentioned that they would like to receive electricity tariff subsidies in exchange for their lost agricultural land areas.
In the module, Ecolur experts presented recommendations to Talin Local Government. It is recommended to initiate the construction of a community solar plant in order to reduce the energy poverty of the community and work with government agencies to establish a solar energy technology center in the community. To re-evaluate the five-year development and subsidy programs of the community from the viewpoint of their climate, energy and disaster risk assessment. And to sign cooperation agreements with the companies that operate solar plants, so that the community will receive deductions from the revenues of those companies for the implementation of projects aimed at energy saving and climate adaptation.
You can familiarize yourself with the results of the studies and the complete set of recommendations in "Problems and measures of implementation of the policy of energy and climate resistance in Talin community, Aragatsotn Region, the Republic of Armenia" module.
This module was developed within the framework of " Impacted Communities and Civil Society Organizations as Participants in Introduction of Socio-ecological Culture in Energy and Climate Change Policies in Armenia" project implemented by "EcoLur" Informational NGO. The project is implemented with the support of "EU4Climate" regional project and the UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme.
August 16, 2024 at 15:10