Wednesday, May 31 2017 19:53

ArmInfo. A number of Czech companies with significant experience in implementing projects for the development of various spheres in the field of renewable energy held a large presentation for representatives of the Armenian business in Yerevan  yesterday.

The event was organized by the Czech Embassy in Armenia.  "The Czech Republic has accumulated colossal experience in small  hydropower engineering, construction and operation of photovoltaic  and wind parks, and our companies are interested in cooperation with  Armenia, which started serious projects in the field of renewable  energy," Czech Ambassador to Armenia Petr Mikyska said when opening  the presentation.

The head of the energy department of the Ministry of Energy  Infrastructures and Natural Resources of Armenia, Hayk Badalyan, who  spoke at the event, noted that support for the development of  renewable energy is one of the priorities in the activities of the  ministry. In the conversation with the correspondent of ArmInfo, the  specialist emphasized that the government made a number of decisions  that contribute to the development of the industry, from temporary  exemption from VAT payments (up to 300 million AMD) for import of  equipment to light licensing procedures. These measures are aimed at  the successful implementation of a large investment program developed  by the Ministry of Energy, which envisages the installation by 2020  of several solar stations with a capacity of 40-50 megawatts, which  will be connected to the common electricity network of Armenia. The  full implementation of the program, according to preliminary  estimates, can provide up to 8% of the energy consumed in the  country. An important aspect of the success of the program is an  important legislative stimulating norm, obliging a guaranteed  purchase of electricity from the electricity supply network for 20  years at a comfortable tariff for investors, established by the  Public Services Regulatory Commission. The Ministry estimates that  the capital expenditures for the construction of one solar station  with a capacity of 1 MW will amount to about $ 1 million, which falls  under investor-friendly, lightweight procedures.

Touching upon the development of solar energy, for which the  so-called "solar map" of Armenia was created, Badalyan said that  three photovoltaic stations have already been licensed in the  country, two of them with a capacity of up to 1 MW and one up to 500  kW. He also informed that within the framework of the investment  program of the Ministry of Energy, necessary research has already  been carried out in six regions of the country and a tender has  already been announced for the construction of a solar station in the  town of Masrik in Gegharkunik region up to 55 MW. As a result of its  implementation, it is assumed that the tariff for electricity of this  large station will not exceed 6 cents per kW of electricity.

Present at the presentation of the representative of the Czech  company SWH Groop of Armenia, Antonin Kolka, in an interview with  ArmInfo correspondent, stated his intention to participate in the  tender for the construction of a solar station in Masrik. According  to him, the country has created good conditions for attracting  foreign investors to projects on renewable energy generation. In  addition to the construction of a photovoltaic station, the company,  which mainly performs engineering tasks, has several projects for  Armenia, including the first project for the country to create a  power generation station as a result of processing domestic waste. He  noted that the company is waiting for concrete proposals from the  government in order to understand the tasks and long-term interests  of the state to familiarize investors and search for partners. "With  these documents and government guarantees, we can begin the search  for the necessary financial resources," the expert noted. He informed  about the availability of a preliminary program for the creation of a  similar station in the Tavush region, which was also presented at the  event.  According to initial estimates, it will cost (capex) 30  million EUR, will process up to 54 thousand tons of garbage, issuing  64 megawatts of electricity. Return on investment (ROI) will be  provided for 8 years of work with an internal rate of return (IRR) of  13% and an annual profit (EBITDA) of 4.2 million EUR.

To note, the peak of the development of renewable energy in the Czech  Republic occurred in the second half of the 2000s, the country built  over 300 wind farms and about 28 thousand solar power plants, which  together generate 2,300 MW of electricity or 5% of all electricity  generated in the country. Recently, the government of the country has  limited the growth of the scope on an industrial scale due to the  excess of the electricity and its impact on the overall tariff  policy. However, at the same time, the state continues to  successfully stimulate private projects to develop alternative energy  for individual needs. Over the next three years on the roofs of  private houses in the Czech Republic should appear more than 40  thousand new solar micro-power plants. Restrictions for the  industrial development of the sphere (without accumulation) narrowed  the possibilities of already experienced engineers in their own  country; they turned their attention to new markets, including  Armenia, rich in winds and the sun.