Green Energy

Shirak region is situated in the northwest of Armenia. It is the country’s poorest region with the highest level of unemployment. Considerable parts of the population are socially vulnerable families, who struggle to gain access to basic needs such as affordable heating, hot and/or drinking water. Even communal buildings like schools or kindergartens often lack a continuous supply of hot water and heating, which raises sanitary and health issues. Awareness on green energy is very low and also the knowledge of how it could help tackle socio-economic problems is missing among local authorities, CSOs and regular citizens.

The project aims at creating accessible and practical conditions for sustainable development based on renewable energy, and thus, directly contributes to poverty alleviation in Shirak region. Renewable energy facilities (e.g. solar irrigation, biogas systems, water heating using solar energy) are promoted for public and private use, as well as green facilities which generate income (e.g. green house combined with air heaters to allow for extended harvesting seasons). Additionally, local authorities and other stakeholders are informed on low-carbon technologies in order to embed the experience on an operational and policy level.

• Establishment of up to seven demonstration plots
• Training and coaching of local communities
• Study visits and practical advisory for stakeholders (e.g. authorities, entrepreneurs, local population)
• Award of up to 15 co-financed small grants to communities, local CSOs and cooperatives
• Training of ten persons to become “green service providers” on a self-employed basis
• Establishment of an “Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Resource Centre” in the region
• Support to local authorities in integrative green socio-economic planning and budgeting
• Public awareness raising on green energy all over Armenia

• 200 (groups of) persons / entrepreneurs/ cooperatives and farmers in Shirak region
• 15 local communities
• 100 local self-governance bodies and regional authorities
• 30 organisations and professionals of the energy sector