Azerbaijan begins construction of new Emirati-branded solar power plant
Abu Dhabi-based Emirati renewable and clean energy company Masdar continues to expand its power to carry out green and sustainable projects that improve the quality of the planet. Now, they have chosen Azerbaijan to begin construction of a new solar power plant. The company has already signed four preliminary agreements to set up in the country and to start implementing other environmentally friendly ideas.
Baku, the country's capital, will be the city chosen to start construction. This new solar energy centre has been named Garadagh and will be capable of producing 230 megawatts per day to power the nation. It is expected to start operating in 2023 and is the first solar power project to be developed by a foreign company there. Masdar, for its part, will invest around $200 million in the construction of the plant.
The Emirati company's executive travelled to Baku, where the inauguration of the new plant was held and the first stone of the project was laid. "The UAE and Masdar look forward to continuing to drive foreign direct investment and supporting Azerbaijan on its ambitious path to clean energy, as we explore further opportunities to further strengthen our partnership," said Suhail al-Mazrouei, Emirati Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, who attended the opening ceremony of the facility.
The groundbreaking, which marks another step in the green transition, was also attended by Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, and the country's Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov.
Meanwhile, Mohamed al-Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, praised Azerbaijan's dedication to initiating the green transition and thanked the Azerbaijani government for handing over the contract to the country's executive. "The two countries share a vision of a sustainable future driven by clean energy and the groundbreaking ceremony marks an important milestone in Azerbaijan's clean energy journey," he said.
Azerbaijan is one nation that is beginning to initiate this energy shift. Right now, it relies heavily on natural gas to meet its energy needs and bring electricity to homes. The territory's new goal is to achieve a 30% energy mix by 2030. This would diversify its economy and also reduce its carbon footprint and greenhouse effect considerably.
"By diversifying its energy mix, Azerbaijan will be able to boost sustainable development and improve energy security, while contributing greatly to climate change mitigation," Al-Ramahi said.
The energy transition is making headway in the country and several clean energy projects are already underway. Another project under construction is a new wind power plant, being built by Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power in conjunction with the country's Ministry of Energy. It will be able to produce around 240 megawatts when completed.
Garadagh is already a project that has been under consideration for some time. Masdar signed the agreement for its construction in April last year and it is expected to generate 500 million kilowatt-hours of clean energy per year when operational. Both the Emirati company and the Azerbaijani government expect it to be able to power the needs of more than 110,000 households in and around the capital. In turn, and in contribution to climate change, carbon emissions are expected to be reduced by more than 200,000 tonnes per year.
"We look forward to leveraging our presence in Azerbaijan and helping the nation achieve its renewable energy goals through these agreements. We stand ready as an active strategic partner to the country to provide knowledge sharing, develop local expertise and deliver lasting infrastructure improvement," concluded Masdar's CEO after the inauguration of Garadagh.
