Why do Armenians use solar energy?

The reason for this is that average solar radiation in Armenia is almost 1700 kWh/m 2 annually. One of the well-known utilization examples is the American University of Armenia (AUA) which uses it not only for electricity generation, but also for water heating. The Government of Armenia is promoting utilization of solar energy.

How big is Armenia's solar power?

In 2017, Tamara Babayan, a sustainable energy expert, estimated the potential of Armenia’s distributed solar power at 1,280 MW and almost 1,800 GWh in annual generation.

What is solar power potential in Armenia?

Solar power potential in Armenia is 8 GW according to the Eurasian Development Bank. The reason for this is that average solar radiation in Armenia is almost 1700 kWh/m 2 annually.

How much electricity does Armenia produce a year?

Last year Armenia produced 8,907.9 GWh of electricity, up 16% from 2021. The vast majority came from thermal power plants in Yerevan and Hrazdan (43.5%) and the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant (32%). Hydropower accounted for 21.8%, while solar stood at 2.7% and wind power at just 0.02%.

How much wind power does Armenia have?

A 2003 study by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimated Armenia’s land areas with “good-to-excellent” wind resource potential to be around 1,000 km². With a conservative assumption of 5 MW per km², the authors noted that the area could support almost 5,000 MW of potential installed capacity.

What percentage of Armenia's Energy is renewable?

Renewable energy resources, including hydro, represented 7.1% of Armenia’s energy mix in 2020. Almost one-third of the country’s electricity generation (30% in 2021) came from renewable sources. Forming the foundation of Armenia’s renewable energy system as of 6 January 2022 were 189 small, private HPPs (under 30 MW), mostly constructed since 2007.