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Enhancing Modelling Capacity and Toolkits for the Armenian Energy System: Focusing on the Climate-Energy Nexus and Energy Transition

Solar PV and Hydropower Local Impact in Armenia: Developers’ Perspective

This group studies local environmental and social effects of renewable projects in Armenia, focusing on the perspectives of plant developers, a stakeholder group rarely examined in academic work.

Abstract: The rapid development of renewable energy, supported by government policy, can generate environmental and social concerns due to its impact on the nearby communities and ecology. Understanding the attitudes of various stakeholders is important to have a more optimal deployment of such technologies, which would help to avoid costly litigation and setbacks. This study aims to cover the perspectives of a group underrepresented in social academic studies – that of developers and owners of the power plants – by conducting 15 interviews with solar PV and hydropower plant owners in Armenia.

The study will employ a qualitative analysis, identifying the issues encountered during the construction and operation of the power plants, as well as the factors affecting the de facto and hypothetical choices of these stakeholders concerning local environmental and social impact.

Hayk Akarmazyan

Hayk Akarmazyan

Dr. Hayk Akarmazyan is an environmental engineer with a PhD in Environmental Engineering Technology, specializing in environmental protection, OHS, and sustainable development. He advises on risk management, renewable energy transition, and sustainability, and is actively involved in research on climate security and the circular economy. He currently advises the Union of Mining and Metallurgical Companies of Armenia and serves as an Associate Professor at the National Polytechnic University of Armenia.
Alen Gasparian Amirkhanian

Alen Gasparian Amirkhanian

Alen Gasparian Amirkhanian is Director of the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment and Chair of the BS in Environmental and Sustainability Sciences since 2023. He teaches environmental courses and has previously worked with organizations such as the World Bank, UNDP, and the Brookings Institution. His interests include urban sustainability, green cities, and the circular economy. Mr. Amirkhanian holds a Master's in City Planning ('97) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Department of Urban Studies and Planning.
Mattia De Rosa

Mattia De Rosa

Prof. Mattia De Rosa, MEng and PhD, is an Associate Professor in Energy and Thermal Engineering at the University of Genoa, focusing on building energy systems, renewables, waste heat recovery, and thermo-economic analysis. He previously held research roles at University College Dublin and Queen's University Belfast. He has contributed to major international projects (e.g., FP7, H2020, IEA) and served in professional and sustainability organizations.

Ashkhen Hakobyan

Ashkhen Hakobyan

Ashkhen Hakobyan is a sociocultural anthropologist, a Ph.D student at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, NAS RA, and a research fellow at Yerevan State University. Her research interests include education, behavioral studies, and national and professional identity.
Kristine Simonyan

Kristine Simonyan

Kristine Simonyan is a researcher at the Scientific Research Institute of Energy with a background in political science and translation. She has contributed to EU-funded energy projects and works on power network analysis, with research interests in energy efficiency, renewable integration, and energy transition.
Armen Danielyan 

Armen Danielyan 

Armen Danielian is a lecturer and researcher in energy economics and regulation at the American University of Armenia. He holds an MSc in Energy Systems from the University of Oxford and has contributed to Armenia's Energy Independence Roadmap. His work includes analytical reports and research on energy and environmental issues.
Davit Khachatryan 

Davit Khachatryan 

Davit Khachatryan is an international lawyer and lecturer specializing in arbitration, investment law, and public international law. He holds three LLM degrees and teaches courses on investment law, dispute resolution, and international legal frameworks, combining academic and practical perspectives. His work explores the intersection of law, conflict, human rights, humanitarian law, and international adjudication.