(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 22. Azerbaijan, which
has established itself as a reliable and key supplier of oil and
gas, is actively developing green energy, thus making contributions
to international decarbonization efforts, reports.
As of today, significant renewable energy projects with foreign
capital are being implemented throughout the country. Masdar's 230
MW Garadagh Solar Power plant and ACWA Power's Khizi-Absheron Wind
Power Plant are among the striking examples of the mentioned
projects. In addition, bp is expected to build the Shafag (Sunrise)
solar power plant (SPP) in liberated Jabrayil.
The power supply on Azerbaijan's liberated lands with 10,000 MW
renewables potential has been fully restored. The Presidential
Decree 'On measures to create a green energy zone in the liberated
territories of Azerbaijan' provides for the efficient use of
renewable energy sources on the liberated lands.
The energy projects constitute crucial investment in making
Karabakh an essential energy hub. In this regard, it is worth
noting the establishment of energy facilities in Jabrayil and
Gubadli, as part of visits of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva to these districts.
On October 19, the groundbreaking ceremony of the 35 kV
substation and Digital Management Center owned by 'Azerishig' OJSC
took place in Jabrayil. The Digital Management Center will be fed
from the 110/35/10 kV Jabrayil substation. The center will meet
part of the energy demand of Jabrayil and will allow the management
of other energy centers that are planned to be built through a
digital platform. The modern dispatch control system to be
implemented in the center, will ensure subscriber satisfaction with
electricity delivery in real time. The construction of a 330/110
kilovolt 'Jabrayil' Junction Substation will provide uninterrupted
power supply to the Karabakh and East Zangazur Economic Regions,
meet the requirements of ongoing megaprojects, get additional and
more profitable access to the European energy markets through the
Jabrayil-Nakhchivan-Aghri (Türkiye) substation and Turkish energy
system, increase export opportunities, and connect the Nakhchivan
Autonomous Republic to the general energy system of Azerbaijan
after many years.
Furthermore, the 330-kilovolt Jabrayil substation is of
tremendous importance for the transfer of energy and renewables
produced in the Khudafarin and Giz Galasi hydropower plants
[jointly built with Iran] to the general energy system of
Azerbaijan.
The Digital Management Center to be built in Gubadli, will be
fed by the 110/35/10 kV Gubadli substation. The center won't only
meet part of the energy demand of Gubadli, but will also llow
managing other energy centers planned for construction through a
digital platform. The modern dispatch control system to be
implemented in the center, will ensure subscriber satisfaction with
electricity delivery in real time.
The creation of lines linking the 35/0.4-kilovolt Gubadli
substation and the Digital Management Center with the
35/0.4-kilovolt Jabrayil substation and the Hadrut junction
substation will promote the establishment of a ring supply system.
Meantime, the double-circuit cable line between the Gubadli and
Jabrayil substations will ensure the mutual exchange of energy
between the two cities.
Moreover, Archimedes screw turbine Hydro Power Plant was
launched in Zangilan. The Archimedes plant offers a clean and
renewable source of energy and is safer for wildlife than other
hydro generation options. The station, which has three generators,
is able to fully meet the energy demand of the Aghali village.
All the above mentioned and other important projects in
Azerbaijan's Karabakh make the country an essential energy
exporter, thus drawing attention of European countries.
Particularly, Romania offers creating a route along the bottom of
the Black Sea for access to Azerbaijan's energy through
Georgia.
Within the mentioned project, it is scheduled to lay a 1,195 km
1,000 MW transmission line between Georgia and Romania and install
a digital interconnect cable. To this end, a project feasibility
study is supposed to be held with the organizational support of the
World Bank by the end of 2023. The establishment of quadrilateral
cooperation between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary is
currently being discussed.
But this is not the only route for the green energy
transportation from Azerbaijan to Europe. The
Azerbaijan-Türkiye-Europe energy corridor through Nakhchivan, as
well as through Georgia and Türkiye can serve as other options.
All this will foster creating a 'green' corridor, diversify
Azerbaijan's electricity export market, enhance the country's role
as a supplier, and reinforce the integration of the Caspian region
with Europe and the Black Sea region. Thus, Azerbaijan has great
prospects for diversifying energy supplies to Europe via
renewables. In the foreseeable future, the power generation
dynamics in the country is expected to be based on renewable energy
sources. Azerbaijan provides all the required conditions in this
respect, such as rich potential, the priority of the state policy
in renewable energy development, a new legal framework, and foreign
investment.