WindEurope brings Azerbaijan on board

Azerbaijan will be well placed to export its wind power along with oil and gas once a new cable is installed to link it with the European Union.

Although Azerbaijan is geographically a land-locked country, its eastern border runs along the inland Caspian Sea and the MoU expresses the intention to develop both on and offshore wind.

The two parties have pledged to cooperate in a number of areas, including sourcing essential components, simplifying permitting processes and recognising maritime spatial planning and grid development, which is crucial for offshore wind development.

“Wind energy will play a critical role in the energy transition of the wider Caspian region,” said a statement by the Azerbaijan Renewable Energy Agency. “It was stated that, the use of the vast onshore and offshore wind potential in the region will contribute to the global objective of tripling renewable capacity by 2030.”

“We want to help Azerbaijan decarbonise its economy with onshore and offshore wind,” said Christoph Zipf, Press & Communications manager with WindEurope. “The Government of Azerbaijan wants renewables to be 30% of of their total installed electricity capacity by 2030. The pressure to achieve this target will only increase now that Azerbaijan is hosting the next COP later this year. 

“Azerbaijan also has the long-term potential to serve as a exporter of renewable electricity to Georgia and further to the European Union. The electricity demand in Europe is set to increase significantly due to the ongoing direct and indirect electrification of our economy. Mobility, heating and industry will move away from fossil fuels and into electrification.

“Azerbaijan can become an important partner in satisfying this additional electricity demand.”

In December, Azerbaijan agreed to supply the European Union with electricity via a subsea cable as the bloc tries to reduce its dependence on Russia for energy supply.

The Black Sea cable will link Azerbaijan to Hungary via Georgia and Romania, and while it is not expected to be operational until 2029, it will make it possible for Azerbaijan to export its new wind-generated energy as well as that from oil and gas. 

“The policy followed by Ilham Aliyev, the president of the Republic of Azerbaijan, which prioritizes the green growth, and developing and transporting renewables to the global market by 2030 actualizes the wide use of the huge wind power capacity of our country on the basis of modern technology, best practice and international energy partnership,” says the Renewable Energy Agency.

“Our cooperation with WindEurope will support exporting the wind power of the Caspian sea to Europe, contributing to our strategic partnership with EU.”