BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 10. Azerbaijani and
China Energy International Group have discussed renewable energy
projects.
This was announced in a publication by Azerbaijani Energy
Minister Parviz Shahbazov on X account following the meeting with
Executive President of the Group Lin Xiaodan.
"During the meeting, we discussed the completion of the study of
Azerbaijan’s electricity transmission grid and the advancement of
renewable energy projects in line with its findings. We also
reviewed the implementation of the company’s first investment
project in Azerbaijan a 160 MW solar power plant and discussed the
next steps in our cooperation on offshore wind development in the
Caspian Sea," the publication said.
Azerbaijan is implementing large-scale projects to increase
electricity production and diversify its energy system. In
particular, the development of renewable energy sources is one of
the main priorities of the country’s energy strategy. Currently,
major investment projects are underway in the country to build
solar and wind power plants, with the participation of bp, Masdar,
ACWA Power, China Gezhouba Group Overseas Investment, SOCAR Green,
and other partners. As a result of these projects, Azerbaijan’s
energy balance will be augmented by thousands of megawatts of new
generating capacity in the coming years, which will reduce domestic
demand for natural gas and increase gas exports.
According to Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov, the
implementation of these projects is expected to increase the share
of renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan’s energy mix to
approximately 43 percent by 2035.
The minister noted that Azerbaijan is implementing strategic
projects aimed at establishing a new energy and investment platform
between Central Asia and neighboring regions. According to him, one
of the main initiatives is the “Central Asia–Azerbaijan Green
Energy Corridor” project. “The creation of the Trans-Caspian Energy
Corridor, which will connect the power grids of Azerbaijan,
Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, is an integral part of our countries’
strategic vision. This project also creates broad opportunities for
the development of the Middle Corridor, which will serve as a green
energy bridge between Europe, Asia, and China via the Caspian Sea,”
Parviz Shahbazov emphasized.
The minister stated that the “Green Corridors Alliance” joint
venture is already operating in Baku, coordinating feasibility
studies funded by the Asian Development Bank and the European Bank
for Reconstruction and Development. In addition, intensive work is
underway on the Caspian-Black Sea-European green energy corridor,
as well as on the Azerbaijan-Türkiye-Europe and
Azerbaijan-Georgia-Türkiye-Bulgaria energy interconnections. Parviz
Shahbazov stated that “green energy corridors are shaping the
geo-economic map of the future” and that these initiatives will
stimulate not only energy exports but also the development of
digital communications, fiber-optic infrastructure, and regional
economic cooperation.
As the director of the State Agency for Renewable Energy under
the Ministry of Energy, Javid Abdullayev, stated in an exclusive
interview with Trend, the country is playing an increasingly
important role in establishing a green energy bridge between Europe
and Central Asia.
“Azerbaijan is no longer just an exporter of energy resources,
but also one of the initiators of regional energy links and green
energy corridors. The wind and solar energy projects currently
underway will strengthen the country’s energy security and
significantly increase its electricity export capacity,” Javid
Abdullayev emphasized.
According to him, initiatives such as harnessing the Caspian
Sea’s vast wind energy potential, building new power transmission
lines, and establishing the “Caspian Sea–Black Sea–Europe” green
energy corridor will further strengthen Azerbaijan’s role in
Europe’s energy security.
“Green energy projects will provide the country with additional
export revenues, optimize the domestic energy balance, reduce
natural gas consumption, and direct more gas to foreign markets,”
he added.
