Masdar enlisted to bring bifacial to Armenia as part of 400MW PV push

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
The 400MW PV pipeline will require investments of around US$300-320m and start with a 200MW bifacial plant (Image credit: ANIF)

United Arab Emirates (UAE) firm Masdar has been selected to help deliver a new major solar pipeline in Armenia, a still-dormant PV market boasting relatively high irradiation potential.

Over the weekend, a deal was rubberstamped in Abu Dhabi that will see the Middle Eastern player deploy a 400MW PV pipeline in the Caucasus state, in partnership with national fund ANIF.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The joint development agreement (JDA), inked with Armenian president Armen Sarkissian in attendance, will see bifacial deployed in the three-million-inhabitant country.

According to the deal signatories, the 400MW pipeline will require investments of around US$300-320 million and start with a 200MW plant in west Armenia, set to feature two-sided PV modules.

The weekend’s deal marks a step-up from the memorandum of understanding Masdar and ANIF already signed in July, which foresaw work on ground-mount (200MW) and floating PV (200MW).

The statement between Masdar and ANIF – a state-run fund that co-invests in Armenian projects alongside global financiers – sought to build a case for the country’s solar potential.

According to the document, Armenia’s solar irradiation levels of 1,720kWh/m2 and 200-plus rivers and lakes make the Caucasus state a sound fit with PV both on land and water.

The country has only 50MW in up-and-running solar but is eyeing significant growth in coming years, with 250MW already cleared for construction and a further 700MW under planning.

The former Soviet state – home today to a 2.8GW nuclear, hydro and thermal power energy sector – is working towards a target to source 30% of its electricity from renewables by 2025.

The deal in Armenia marks the second time, in the space of just a few days, that the UAE’s solar expertise is tapped into by a foreign country.

Late last week, it emerged Zimbabwe had enlisted the help of Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to install 2GW of solar and stave off the worst of a long-running power crisis.

The deal announced by Zimbabwe president Emmerson Mnangagwa foresees the roll-out of a first 1GW of solar projects, as well as the use of a major dam on Lake Kariba as an impromptu storage battery.

Read Next

Premium
October 6, 2025
Talon PV aims to be the first US company to safely manufacture TOPCon cells at scale, backed by European technology and a crucial First Solar licensing deal.
October 6, 2025
Indian infrastructure company focused on rooftop and ground-based solar power installations, PVV Infra has secured solar power orders worth INR7.9 billion (US$90 million) through two of its subsidiaries. 
October 6, 2025
US utility AES Corporation is reportedly in discussions to be acquired by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a subsidiary of global asset owning giant BlackRock.
October 6, 2025
Indian solar developer ACME Group has established a new subsidiary to manage its renewable equipment manufacturing business, under which it is planning to scale production of TOPCon PV modules.
October 6, 2025
Rajasthan government will develop 500MW/2,000MWh of standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) with a four-hour single-cycle configuration and extended operational life.
October 6, 2025
German solar inverter manufacturer SMA Solar will cut 350 jobs in 2026 as it adapts to the “weak” residential PV market.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland