Date: July 21, 2025
Area: Lake Sevan
Program size : One-day power program
Preface
The power track at Lake Sevan spanned plan, financing, and software right into a one-day program. I attended only a few sessions and took thorough notes in 2. This write-up covers those talks comprehensive: industry organizations and information accessibility for forecasting, funding a CapEx-heavy sector, and where software program can assist now. It is not a full wrap-up of the day, just the sessions I bore in mind on and followed very closely.
This year’s power track ran in a solitary day and loaded a great deal right into two sessions. Below is a write‑up that pigtails together takeaways from Promoting Innovation and a later Q&A on broadening solar firms regionally I focus on what appeared workable for Armenia’s renewable environment, from market framework and associations to forecasting, money, and software.
Compared to 2024
In 2024, the power track ran over 2 days and ranged broader in topics, I believe. This year, it appeared that the discussion was pressed into a solitary day at Lake Sevan, with a sharper focus on industry organizations, information accessibility for forecasting, and useful financing for a CapEx-heavy industry. The much shorter style places coordination and implementation front and facility.
Session 1: Fostering Innovation
Time: 11: 40– 13: 00
Participants : Mediator Hayk Shekyan (Shtigen), Hakob Hakobyan (SSS, Startup Armenia), Karen Asatryan (R 2 E 2 Fund Supervisor), Tigran Okhanyan (EcoVille), Ronald Upmann (German Solar Association)
German Solar Association (Ronald Upmann): What counts as technology?
Development showed up as a mix of modern technology, process, and market style. The German perspective helped frame it:
Sector association need to belong to the backbone. Germany’s Solar Organization is a private‑sector body that covers the value chain, from basic materials to installers and start-ups. They work with plan input, public awareness, and international jobs. Armenia lacks a comparable umbrella team with the same extent and ability.
Range and citizen fostering, crucial variables. Panel remarks referenced 17 5 GW of PV included Germany last year, with veranda PV ending up being a mass product. An estimated 500, 000 plug‑in balcony sets have supposedly been sold, signifying how tiny, low‑friction items can expand participation.
Importance of Research -> > firm pipe. Germany’s strong R&D impact, consisting of Fraunhofer institutes, has actually seeded startup/company spin‑outs. That stated, the audio speaker kept in mind spaces in working capital and start‑up administration in the house ( An assumption that even those outside of Germany find out about
On competing and complying worldwide. Chinese firms are members of the German association. Instead of pushing tariffs, the association attempts to “moderate” amongst varied interests and emphasize positive measures for residential durability. One tool mentioned was a resilience benefit , an added charge or assistance when buyers select in your area manufactured parts like inverters or panels.
“Veranda PV transformed solar into a customer product.” (Ronald Upmann, from notes)
“We do not push for tolls; much of our members are Chinese producers. Our work is to moderate and maintain the marketplace growing.” (Ronald Upmann, from notes)
EcoVille (Tigran Okhanyan): brand-new strategies, not just brand-new technology
EcoVille pressed for a broader definition of advancement:
The grid can be much more distributed. Past classic main generation, concepts such as purchasing from batteries that sit off the primary grid were raised as instances of market and operational creativity.
We(Armenia) ought to update the grid for effectiveness and stability. The telephone call was to recognize certain upgrades that increase dependability and make it possible for greater sustainable infiltration.
We need to construct the labor force for power. Armenia needs programs and licenses for hands‑on functions: PV and inverter installers, commissioning techs, and specialized upkeep. Colleges and labs will certainly need exclusive assistance to stand pertinent equipment and projects.
Match finance to a CapEx‑heavy sector. Green bonds and customized loaning showed up, together with legal positioning, to ensure that financial institutions can get involved at scale.
Energy effectiveness issues. Neighborhood production of efficiency materials, from windows to roofing, would certainly help in reducing demand while supporting industry.
“Development is also just how we run and spend for the grid, not just new equipment.” (Tigran Okhanyan, from notes)
“The grid doesn’t constantly need to be systematized.” (Tigran Okhanyan, from notes)
R 2 E 2 Fund (Karen Asatryan): Helping round out the ecological community a lot more
R 2 E 2 explained itself as a state entity working to create the conditions for renewable energy and efficiency to grow. Points from the panel:
Assemble the full community. The system functions best when all parties exist and energetic: companies throughout the chain, government, sponsors, scientists, and civil teams.
Support local producers. Armenia already has examples, like wind‑blade producers R 2 E 2 purposes to connect them with agreements and occasion direct exposure.
Draw in young talent to the area. The industry needs a pipeline of people who see power as a job, not a particular niche.
“We require the complete ecosystem in the room-from makers to financiers-and we can help link them.” (Karen Asatryan, from notes)
“Armenia currently has wind-blade manufacturing; our task is to open up doors to agreements and events.” (Karen Asatryan, from notes)
Where software can assist right now (Recall the talk is on Fostering Development, and normally, software program is an overlapping theme that is leading of mind for all people at the summit)
A number of software application opportunities surfaced that can shorten project cycles and boost returns:
Style and site workflows. Devices that enhance website surveys, simulation, and installment administration.
List building and credentials. Better demand capture and client education and learning lower friction.
Efficiency analytics with discovering gradually. Workflow devices that track actuals vs. theoretical outcome and describe deviations.
Market procedures in a liberalized setup. As wholesale markets open, hundreds of thousands of micro‑decisions appear across trading, organizing, hedging, and danger. Software program and AI can assist individuals earn a few even more cents per kilowatt‑hour by improving bids and balancing.
Session 2: Q&A on Regional Expansion for Solar Business
Time: 15: 30– 16: 30
Participants: Moderator Hayk Shekyan ; Tigran Okhanyan (EcoVille); Maya Melikidze (GREDA); Njdeh Andriazian (ESF Armenia); Nick Tabatadze (Shtigen Georgia)
Projecting and the data issue
The greatest theme was projecting, and the lack of information needed to do it well:
Designers can not access key datasets. Owners of beneficial data frequently do not assess or share it. In Georgia, the power exchange data was likewise pointed out as hard to open and utilize.
Why associations matter. GREDA was developed due to the fact that individual companies’ demands to the federal government looked self‑serving and possibly anti-competitive. A” neutral association ( however likewise can be vulnerable to corrupt passions and oligopoly tendencies can say for policies and facilities that benefit the sector, not simply one firm.
How mature markets manage forecasting. Some German companies contract out projecting to multiple service providers in parallel. Armenia largely does not. That minimizes redundancy and strength.
“When business lobby alone it looks egoistic; with each other you can request for infrastructure that helps the market.” (Maya Melikidze, GREDA, from notes)
“We require forecasting providers-plural-and the data access that makes them viable.” (Njdeh Andriazian, ESF Armenia, from notes)
Establishments and public policy
A recurring frustration was the lack of the “best degree” of federal government in rooms similar to this. Takeaways:
Policy usually starts outdoors government. Civil culture and industry can emerge issues and form propositions.
Define the problem first, in public. A union for sustainable and clear power can help establish a shared schedule.
Organizations ought to hold a goal with policy shifts. Numerous speakers claimed Armenia has plans on paper, however establishments do not constantly carry them via when conditions alter.
Markets beyond Armenia, however in the Caucasus
“Iran has around 8, 000 PV professionals today, and they need about 28, 000 to hit national plans.” (Njdeh Andriazian, from notes)
Regional aspiration came through with details examples:
Iran. Numbers cited throughout the talk suggested 8, 000 present PV experts and a need for 28, 000 to satisfy national objectives, along with incentives that pay a numerous of the regular tariff for renewables. This appears like an abilities export and task possibility if access barriers can be handled.
Client count on trading. A new Armenian power trading business asked just how to construct trust with consumers who are not sure concerning free market engagement. The space leaned toward shared platforms for communication and education.
Self‑regulation is inadequate. Numerous argued that the market will not reach fairness or transparency by itself. Several bodies currently have mandates in the energy field; they require to collaborate instead of being in silos.
What to do next: a useful shortlist
- Stand a renewables market organization with teeth. Offer it a long-term council and clear sphere/scope: plan proposals, information accessibility campaigning for, training requirements, and worldwide partnerships.
- Launch an open information and forecasting program. Release a presented roadmap for information gain access to; seed two to three independent projecting providers and compare them in public. Usage standard APIs.
- Develop installer and O&M credentials. Co‑design licenses and educational programs with universities and personal firms. Fund shared laboratories and field equipment.
- Catalytic financing for CapEx. Motivate environment-friendly bonds, assurance centers, and standard agreements so financial institutions can finance roof and C&I tasks at range.
- Prepare for cross‑border trade. Line up grid upgrades, interconnect guidelines, and projecting with neighbors to market abilities and services, not simply electrons.
Open up concerns worth pushing forward …
- Which Armenian organization is ideal put to hold a sector‑wide organization, and exactly how needs to management be structured to prevent capture
- What are the minimum sensible datasets that open beneficial projecting in year one, and that can release them safely?
- For a customer‑facing performance checker, what inputs should be user‑editable and what can be presumed from device telemetry?
- Which grid upgrades yield the largest near‑term security gains for distributed PV combination?
- What is a practical course to certify 1, 000 + installers and O&M techs in two years, and who funds the laboratories and examinations?
- How can a strength incentive be made to award neighborhood worth without breaching profession policies or pumping up prices?
In Closing
Going to a few sessions at the Power summit made it clear just how much progression depends upon coordination The technology is below. The missing pieces are institutions that share information, train individuals, established reasonable rules, and provide firms the room to complete. If Armenia can line those up, innovation will look less like a slogan/buzzword and even more like day‑to‑day practice.