ARMENIA TO CONSTRUCT GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS

news.am
July 15 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenia has launched exploration works to construct
geothermal power plants, said head of Renewable Resources and Energy
Efficiency Fund Tamara Babayan.

She said three areas Dzhermakhpyur (Syunik region), Qaraqar (Syunik
region), and Gridzor (Gegharkunik region) are prospective from this
viewpoint. Due to the rapid development of relatively new volcanic
processes Armenia is considered one of the most promising areas for
geothermal energy development.

According to Babayan, Armenia~Rs geothermal potential is currently
estimated at about 30 megawatts.

It is not great capacity but geothermal energy has several advantages
over other types of renewable energy. In particular, the thermal
energy of the earth is constant, unlike wind and solar power.

In order to use geothermal energy one should drill at least 1-3 km
to reach hot rocks. The exploration works are carried out within
World Bank’s GeoFund program, which provided $ 1.5 million. However,
construction of geothermal power plants should be made at the expense
of private investments. According to Babayan, a number of foreign
companies are interested in this program.