Armenia sees another finished solar PV plant

Arpi Solar has completed work on a 1 MW solar PV plant in Armenia. While it designed the plant and carried out construction work, JinkoSolar, Staubli, Enerparc, Sungrow provided the necessary equipment.

An opening ceremony, attended by Prime Minister Mr Karen Karapetyan and Deputy Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources, Mr Hayk Harutyunyan, among others, was held in the city of Talin last month.

“Talin-1 sets new standards in solar energy sphere in Armenia,” said Harutyunyan. “The engineering activities were delivered in 20 days, which is a very short period for implementation of such initiatives according to international standards and which also proves the competence of the project construction company.”

In December 2016, the Armenian Public Services regulation commission (PSRC) announced a special tariff regime for PV projects ranging in size from 150 kW up to 1 MW. At the time, Harutyunyan said the tariff would be equal to those for wind energy, which is AMD 42.645 (US$0.09)/kWh without VAT.

By this October, the Ministry said a total of 11 licenses had been awarded for plants in this category. Construction on three had already begun by March 2017.

Bigger ambitions

Looking ahead, Arpi Solar is now gearing up to begin work on a 55 MW solar PV plant in Masrik “very soon”. No further details were available.

In May, Armenia’s Ministry of Energy Infrastructure and Natural Resources published a call for tenders for a 55 MW solar power project. Out of 20 proposals received, said the government in July, 10 companies and consortia pre-qualified.

At the time, it was said the tendered 55 MW solar park will require an investment of between $40 million and $60 million. Harutyunyan added that the project could be ramped up to 100 MW at a later stage.