SHIRAK, Armenia — On August 15, Nonna Babayan, an expert at the American University of Armenia (AUA) Acopian Center for the Environment’s Sweden-funded Waste Policy Armenia (WPA) program, showcased the transformative potential of organic waste for clean energy at ECOTHON 2025.
ECOTHON 2025, implemented by the Women in Climate and Energy NGO and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia (RA) and the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, provided a platform for knowledge exchange and participatory discussions on renewable energy, climate adaptation, and biodiversity protection. Participants also visited Arpi Lake National Park, where they gained first-hand experience of Armenia’s rich biodiversity and explored the potential for community-led environmental initiatives.
The two-day forum brought together government officials, local authorities, academia, and civil society to explore sustainable pathways for climate-resilient community development. Babayan’s presentation demonstrated how the WPA program is advancing Armenia’s energy transition by converting organic waste into biogas, delivering environmental, economic, and climate resilience benefits for local communities.
As part of the event, Babayan presented findings from a biogas infrastructure pre-feasibility study conducted under the WPA program. The study identified Shirak as the region with the highest biogas potential in Armenia and highlighted specific settlements suitable for pilot projects. Babayan emphasized that harnessing organic waste for biogas can simultaneously support local energy production, improve waste management, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “Utilizing organic waste for biogas provides clean energy, reduces emissions, and strengthens local economies,” she noted.
The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment, a research center of the American University of Armenia (AUA), promotes the protection and restoration of the natural environment through research, education, and community outreach. The AUA Acopian Center’s focus areas include sustainable natural resource management, biodiversity protection and conservation, greening the built environment, sustainable energy, as well as information technology and the environment. Visit ace.aua.am.
The Swedish-funded “Waste Policy Armenia” program is implemented by the Acopian Center for the Environment in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment of Armenia and the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia. Visit ace.aua.am/projects/waste_policy/.