Judging by new projects in the energy sector, today the Azerbaijani government is more interested in developing ‘green’ energy. The share of renewable sources in electricity production in Azerbaijan today exceeds 8 percent, but the country’s Ministry of Energy intends to bring this figure to 30 percent by 2030. The goal is quite realizable given that Azerbaijan’s geographical location creates favorable conditions for developing the renewable energy sector. The country is actively working within the commission created by Azerbaijani President's decree dated December 5, 2019, ‘On measures to implement pilot projects in the field of the use of renewable energy sources.’ Its 5th meeting has been recently held under the leadership of Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov.
The first auction, held for the construction of solar and wind power plants in the Absheron region, revealed significant interest in this area among foreign companies. A year ago, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Energy signed contracts for the implementation of pilot projects in renewable energy sources with ACWA Power and Masdar. The project envisages construction of a 200 MW solar power plant (Masdar) and a 240 MW wind power plant (ACWA Power).
Most importantly, it is precisely the ‘green’ energy projects that Azerbaijan relies on in the lands in Karabakh liberated from the Armenian occupation. Moreover, as President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly stated, this region will become a model for the whole world as a ‘green’ energy zone. "At the same time, the most advanced technologies, the most economically rational, energy-saving technologies and ‘green’ energy - water, wind, sun - should be applied," the head of state emphasized.
The development of the concept of a ‘green’ zone or green space has already begun in Karabakh. It will include the use of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, clean technologies, including the use of vehicles and so on. In this direction, discussions are underway with the International Renewable Energy Agency. Shahbazov noted that, according to preliminary estimates, these territories have a potential of more than 4,000 megawatts of solar energy, up to 500 megawatts of wind energy.
Eight potential territories with high solar energy potential have been selected in Kalbajar, Lachin, Gubadli, Zangilan, Jabrayil, Fuzuli districts, while wind power will be developed in Kalbajar and Lachin districts. Moreover, taking into account that 25 percent of Azerbaijan’s local water resources are formed in Karabakh, the prospects of using the rivers Tartar, Bazarchay, Hakari, and their tributaries for electricity generation are being considered.
In a word, Azerbaijan picked up the global trend of transition to a ‘green’ economy on the fly. Despite the continuing dependence of state revenues on the oil factor, the country is happy to orient its future economic and energy policy towards the ‘green’ light.
https://report.az/en/analytics/green-light-key-issue-on-agenda/