(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 22. Azerbaijan's success in oil and gas cooperation, especially with
European partners, may be an example for any energy-exporting
country. The advantage of Azerbaijan, compared to other countries,
is that the country has already launched projects aimed at
developing green energy throughout the region. Having established
itself as a reliable supplier of traditional resources, Azerbaijan
does not plan to stop there. The country's ambitious green energy
export plans are gaining momentum and are already beginning to
materialize in concrete initiatives.
The project of the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC),
initiated precisely by Azerbaijan at the time, was able to largely
ensure the energy security of Europe. Today, many European
politicians thank Azerbaijan and President Ilham Aliyev for the
fact that during the global energy crisis, Azerbaijan extended a
helping hand to its partners.
And now, by analogy with the SGC, Azerbaijan is
creating a green energy corridor that will not only supply Europe
with the additional energy resources it needs today but will also
meet the global agenda for decarbonizing production.
At a recent meeting with German businessmen during his
visit to Berlin, President Ilham Aliyev stressed that, soon, green
energy from Azerbaijan would be as important as natural gas.
'So, we really will transform into an important green
energy supplier to Europe. And taking into account our successful
experience in building oil and gas pipelines, already existing
history of cooperation with countries and companies in Europe on
energy security, full support by European Commission to our plants,
energy dialogue between European Commission and our Ministry of
Energy, which started more than a year ago. So, all these factors
really demonstrate that green energy from Azerbaijan will soon be
no less important as natural gas is today,' President Ilham Aliyev
said.
By declaring Karabakh a green energy production zone,
Azerbaijan has taken a major step towards decarbonization, striving
for global trends and developing its own economy.
The large-scale projects that are currently underway
in Azerbaijan, including on the liberated territories, are the
basis for the country's development as a producer and, in the
future, an exporter of alternative energy.
One of the most significant renewable energy projects
on the liberated territories is a joint project with the British bp
company for the production of solar energy. It is expected that in
two years the power plant will fully function while 'cleaning' the
oil and gas production in Absheron. The project, which is being
implemented by a company of this scale, shows that, firstly,
Azerbaijan's renewable energy potential is quite high, and
secondly, Azerbaijan is a reliable and stable partner.
In total, Azerbaijan's renewable energy potential is
more than 27 GW of onshore wind and solar energy and 157 GW of wind
energy in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. By 2027, the
country plans to produce 3 GW of wind and 1 gigawatt of solar
energy, 80 percent of which will be exported. By 2037, Azerbaijan
expects an additional capacity of at least 6 gigawatts. Only one
global energy company already plans to invest 10 GW of green energy
in Azerbaijan.
As part of the state strategy, in the period from 2023
to 2025, the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan will be engaged in
studying and assessing the prospects for the use of renewable
energy sources, specifically hydropower, geothermal energy, and
bioenergy, as well as hydrogen technologies, and carrying out
activities for energy storage and hydro accumulation.
One of the latest key steps taken by Azerbaijan to
implement the start of alternative electricity exports to Europe
was the signing of the 'Agreement on a strategic partnership in the
field of green energy development and transmission between the
Governments of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and
Hungary.' Only this one document already indicates the extent to
which Azerbaijani energy resources are in demand in the West.
As part of this project, it is planned to lay a
1,195-kilometer power transmission line with a capacity of 1,000 MW
between Georgia and Romania and install a digital connecting cable.
To this end, with the support of the World Bank, it is planned to
prepare a technical and economic justification of the project by
the end of 2023.
In general, Azerbaijan is considering several ways to
supply green electricity to Europe. The first of them is the
Azerbaijan-Türkiye-Europe Energy Corridor through Nakhchivan; the
second is through Georgia and Türkiye; and the third is an
underwater electric and digital communication project across the
Black Sea, which will connect Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and
Hungary.
Furthermore, Azerbaijan is already working on a new
line from Zangazur to Nakhchivan and from there to Türkiye and
Iran. Within this context, the creation of the Jabrayil energy hub
and the construction of the 330-kV Jabrayil substation are of
strategic importance.
The path that will pass through Nakhchivan, in fact,
is an element of the Zangazur corridor. Nakhchivan's role in this
regard is very essential. According to the head of state, along
with Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur, it is also planned to turn
Nakhchivan into a green energy zone.
'There is a big potential of hydropower station
building in Nakhchivan. And also there was an expertise recently
conducted there and probably soon we will have some developments
with respect to construction of the 500 megawatt solar power
station. At the same time, traditional power station in Nakhchivan
is also more than welcome because Nakhchivan has a great export
potential,' President Ilham Aliyev said.
So, repeating its oil and gas success story,
Azerbaijan implements plans to export green energy in specific
projects. The policy pursued by the head of state aimed at
integration into the global economy has already turned Azerbaijan
into the main investment hub in the region.
The world's largest companies are ready to invest huge
amounts in promising projects, not only in the field of energy but
also in many other areas. And now, when renewable energy becomes
the basis of the dynamics of electricity production in the coming
years, international investments in the country will only grow.
There are all the necessary conditions for this, such as a rich
potential, the priority of state policy in the field of alternative
energy development, and a new legal framework. All this is the key
to the success of the Azerbaijani economy.