Alternative Energy on the Georgian Market
Georgia appears to be heading for a gradual transition to alternative energy consumption, following last week’s announcement that a solar energy generation system has been set up at the Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport. The same system was also installed at Ilia State University. Moreover, in the surroundings of Gori city, eastern Georgia, the active construction of wind power plants is ongoing.
The solar energy generation system at Tbilisi International Airport is capable of generating 337,000 kWh electricity a year, which covers 40 percent of the facility’s total consumption, while Ilia State University’s solar energy generation system can generate 30,000 kWh electricity a year, which is enough to cover 15 percent of the building’s total use.
The project is the first of its kind in the South Caucasus and aims to promote the use of clean energy in Georgia. Its construction was possible thanks to a USD 4.8 million grant from the Japanese government offered for the project in 2010.
The local government named the decrease of carbon dioxide emissions as the main advantage of the project- at Tbilisi International Airport and Ilia State University it is expected to reduce by 187 tons and 16.6 tons a year, respectively, which equals to about 569,000 m2 of forest.
The Ministry of Energy of Georgia is currently strongly focused on this direction and recently began construction of the Kartli wind power plants which will have a 20 MW capacity.
“The energy is expected to provide for approximately 20,000 families,” said Tornike Kazarashvili, Chairman of the Board of Kartli Wind Power. “After the pilot wind power plant begins operation next year, the Ministry of Energy will increase its capacity to 100 MW, with additional financial resources from investors and International Financial Institutions.”
The first solar heating systems in Georgia were installed in the mountainous Tusheti region, in the east, in 2010. In future, the Georgian government is also planning to construct a large solar power station in Gardabani district, eastern Georgia.
Eka Karsaulidze