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Time in Yerevan: 11:07,   29 March 2024

“Energy week 2017” to focus on construction of industrial-scale solar power plants

“Energy week 2017” to focus on construction of industrial-scale solar power plants

YEREVAN, JANUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenia Renewable Resources and Energy Efficiency Fund is holding “Energy week 2017” series of events from January 25 to 27.

The events are aimed at presenting the recent developments in Armenia’s energy efficiency and renewable energy field, the existing issues, the investment opportunities, the possible financial sources, the technological and engineering solutions, the prospective projects and etc.

“Armenpress” talked with Director of the Fund Tamara Babayan about the details of the events.

-Mrs. Babayan, what do “Energy week 2017” series of events represent and what is their purpose?

-The “Energy week” annual event is already a demanded forum in Armenia which is attended by devotees of clean energy, sector’s policy and legislation decision-makers,sponsors, private and public sector representatives. During active discussions they identify the global challenges, our country’s participation in overcoming them, record the achievements and reveal the obstacles. Despite being demanded, we are not often holding this event, it is not an end in itself. It is being held when there is something to say. And this year, really there are many things to say at all directions. For us the event is to some extent a report in a sense what has changed in the sector from the previous event till now, what consequences the discussions led to and what achievements were recorded.

This is a platform where the obstacles and difficulties existing in the field are revealed, ways on solving the issues are proposed. This is a format which enables to acquire deeper knowledge on the sector, information on the market and get acquainted with the financing opportunities.

This year the most important event of the Energy Week is the forum of investors aimed at constructing solar power plants during which solar power plants investments program in Armenia will be presented. There will also be round-table discussions, as well as a sectoral exhibition.

-What is the event’s agenda?

-On January 25 the official opening ceremony of the event will be held during which Armenia’s energy system situation, the investment environment of renewable energy, the guarantees and incentives provided by the state will be presented. A separate day will be dedicated to the discussion of energy efficiency developments. Visit is also planned to solar measurable plants locations.

-What problems currently exist in the energy efficiency and renewable energy field, and due to this event, how can they be solved?

-The energy efficiency and renewable energy field is year by year achieving significant and positive progress, here there are almost no obstacles, the field has been gradually improved. All difficulties were overcome, and the process for investors has been simplified. Nevertheless, currently we are considering technologies which we previously didn’t have. In this regard, one of the difficulties is the lack of professionals in the technology field, although, there is a potential for that. On the one hand, this difficulty is also an opportunity for new specialists, new organizations, a beginning of a new market. Another obstacle, perhaps also an opportunity, is the market readiness. Due to these events we must reveal the gaps of the market, outline the opportunity of the promising business to the start-up companies, that try to work, develop, expand here. We must show the field to our foreign partners, and maybe they will open their representations and will find their business partners. In general, this event is another form of solving these issues.

-What is the composition of the participants?

-The active participation of foreign investors, experts and international finance organizations is expected. Already today wide participation of public officials, financial market and NGOs is registered. The representatives of the scientific sector are among the traditional participants.

-What investment programs will be presented and how they will be attractive for the investors?

-The biggest investment project is “Masrik 1” solar power plant project, the planned capacity of which is 55 megawatts. The project requires 45 million USD investment, and here the participation of much more foreign experienced companies is expected. The investors in this project will be attracted by a competition. The state guarantees purchase of power produced by solar power plant within 20 years. It is also guaranteed that the minimum tariff of the proposal won during the competition will be maintained within 20 years. The next advantage is that we expect to get quite mild finance and guarantees from the World Bank, which the state will provide to the private investors in order they will be able to offer low tariff.

-How often are these events taking place in this sector?

-We are organizing these events once every 2 years, however, if similar one has already been held in the country, we are trying not to repeat it. We are regularly holding consultations and conferences on separate topics once in a year.

-What results did the previous forum bring and what results do you expect from this forum?

-The event of 2014 was quite interesting and productive since during that days the Armenian renewable energy investment program was approved. During this event issues were revealed that today are solved, certain programs were outlined some of which today recorded significant achievements. Moreover, we are going to present the continuous opportunities of these programs during “Energy week 2017”.

Another important achievement is the fixed tariff of solar energy which didn’t previously exist.

We expect active work and productive discussions from this event. We hope the information presented by the participants will enable to create a big army of specialists with various qualifications. We expect to reveal the issues concerning the investors.

Our goal is to create serious grounds and preconditions in order to ensure the sector’s further achievements and to state them with pride during the next events.

The organizer of the events is “Expomedia” Center of Exhibition Projects.

Interview by Vahe Hakobyan

 








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