Renewable energy in Azerbaijan

Gas and oil make up two-thirds of Azerbaijan's GDP, making it one of the top ten most fossil fuel-dependent economies in the world.^[1] Azerbaijan has some renewable energy projects.^[2][3] These include hydropower, wind, and solar and biomass power plants.^[4]

The country's currently installed renewable energy capacity is 4.5 MW.^[5] Azerbaijan began installment of its first major solar plant in 2023.^[6] The government of Azerbaijan aims to increase share of renewables in total electricity production to 30% by 2030.^[7]

Renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan’s renewable energy sources are hydropower, wind, solar, and biomass power plants. Together, these generated 1.48 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy in 2018, comprising almost 9% of the total production of 17.2 billion kWh.^[4][8]

Solar

Solar Power Plants of 20 MW and over include:

• Garadagh Solar Power Plant – 230 MW^[9]
• Nakhchivan Solar Power Plant – 20 MW

Windmills

Azerbaijan is one of those countries where windmills could be perfect fit due to geographical location. In particular, the Absheron peninsula, coastline of Caspian Sea and islands in the northwestern part of Caspian Sea, the Ganja-Dashkesan zone in the west of Azerbaijan and the Sharur-Julfa area of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic are favorable areas. In 1999, Japan's Tomen Company, together with the Azerbaijan Scientific Research Institute of Power Engineering and Energy, installed two towers with 30 and 40 meters in Absheron, average annual wind speed was determined to be 7.9-8.1 m/sec and feasibility study about the installation of windmills with a total capacity of 30 MWt had been prepared in Qobustan region.^[3]

Hydroelectric energy

See also: Hydroelectric power stations in Azerbaijan

The production of electricity from this hydropower is being increased since 1990. The percentage of production power of hydroelectric power plants is currently 17.8 percent in the total energy system of the Republic. There was no connection between Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic's energy system and the main energy system of the Republic, that is why medium, small and micro hydroelectric power stations need to be set up in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.^[3]

State Agency on Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources

Main article: State Agency on Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources (Azerbaijan)

The State Agency on Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources of the Republic of Azerbaijan was established by the Decree of the President of Azerbaijan dated 1 February 2013, for improving the management system in the field of alternative and renewable energy.^[10]

The Charter of the State Agency on Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources was approved by the Decree of the Head of State on 1 February 2013.^[11]

Annual report

In 2014, 1480.0 million kWh of electricity was generated in the country by all renewable energy sources. This, according to estimated calculations, along with saving of 298,5 thousand tons of mazut or 429.2 million m³ of natural gas, prevents spreading to the atmosphere 919,400 tonnes or 763,900 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂).^[12]

In 2015, 1816.0 million kilowatt/hours of electricity was generated by all alternative and renewable energy sources (21.5 percent more than in the previous year), and 6315.3 percent of thermal energy (15.9 percent more than in the previous year). This has resulted on savings of 464.7 million m³ of natural gas on average and, prevents spreading to the atmosphere 827.2 thousand tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) (Calculated based on “ The method of calculating the amount of gases the thermal effect spreading to atmosphere” approved by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources dated 18 January 2006)^[13]

According to collecting data from the preliminary official statistical and economic subjects, in 2016, 2,141.9 million kilowatt/hours electricity, or 9.3 percent of 23,073.9 million kilowatt/hours of electricity produced by the all sources in country were the total amount of alternative and renewable energy sources. Compared with the previous year, the total production of electricity amounted to 100.8%, and its production on The State Agency for Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources was 117.1%. 4212.4 Gcal of thermal energy was generated on the State Agency for Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources, which means an increase of 2.0% compared to the previous year. Efficient utilization of State Agency for Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources has resulted 548.7 million m³ of natural gas savings and, to prevent spreading to the atmosphere 976.7 thousand tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) (Calculated based on “The method of calculating the amount of gases the thermal effect spreading to atmosphere” approved by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources dated 18 January 2006) ^[14][15]

See also

• Natural Resources of Azerbaijan
• Energy in Azerbaijan

References

1. Lo, Joe (9 December 2023). "Oil-reliant Azerbaijan chosen to host Cop29 climate talks". Climate Home News. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
2. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
3. "Alternativ və bərpa olunan enerji mənbələrindən istifadə".
4. Mehdiyev, Mushvig (11 April 2019). "Renewable Energy Could Be The Next Big Thing For Azerbaijan". Caspian News. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
5. "Renewable energy snapshot: Azerbaijan" (PDF).
6. "Azerbaijan starts installing first major solar power plant". Eurasianet. 2023.
7. Shahana, Bilalova (1 May 2020). "Azerbaijan In The Light Of Climate Change – Analysis". Eurasia Review. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
8. "Azerbaijan reveals potential of renewable energy sources". 5 September 2016.
9. "Ilham Aliyev attended official opening ceremony of 230 MW Garadagh Solar Power Plant » Official web-site of President of Azerbaijan Republic". president.az. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
10. "Azerbaijan aims to boost alternative energy sector". 29 March 2013.
11. "Official website of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan". Retrieved 23 May 2011.
12. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
13. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
14. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
15. ""Alternativ və Bərpa olunan Enerji mənbələrindən istifadə üzrə, 2015-2020"Strategiyası" (PDF).