WiRE Azerbaijan at the 12th Caspian International Power and Green Energy Exhibition
On the 4th of July, the WiRE Azerbaijan team attended the 12th Caspian International Power and Green Energy Exhibition, known as Caspian Power, which was part of the Baku Energy Week at the Baku Expo Center. This annual event has been pivotal in attracting foreign direct investments into Azerbaijan's energy sector. Over time, the event has evolved into Baku Energy Week, encompassing all significant segments of energy policy, including oil, gas, upstream, downstream, and green energy.
WiRE Azerbaijan Representation:
Aynur Mahmudova and Inara Ahmadova represented WiRE Azerbaijan at the exhibition. They engaged with key renewable energy companies operating in Azerbaijan, specifically Masdar and ACWA Power.
Masdar's Contributions and Collaborations:
Masdar has significantly contributed to Azerbaijan's renewable energy landscape by constructing the 230 MW Garadagh Solar PV Plant in October 2023. This plant is the largest solar power facility in the Caspian region and the CIS, built with foreign investment totaling $262 million. It marks the first industrial-scale solar power plant in Azerbaijan funded by foreign investment. The Garadagh Solar PV Plant is set to produce 500 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, saving 110 million cubic meters of natural gas and reducing carbon emissions by 200 thousand tons. The plant spans 550 hectares and features 570 thousand solar panels, connected to the network via a 330-kilovolt substation.
During the exhibition, WiRE representatives discussed potential cooperation with Masdar's Business Development team, including Narmin Guliyeva and Amna Ahmad Albastaki. They explored opportunities for collaboration within the Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE) initiative and potential contributions to Masdar's WISER program.
ACWA Power's Wind Farm Project:
ACWA Power is developing a 240 MW wind farm in Azerbaijan as a greenfield Independent Power Project (IPP). The project aligns with the Presidential Order of December 5, 2019, aimed at implementing pilot projects using renewable energy sources. Key project agreements, including the Investment Agreement, Power Purchase Agreement, and Transmission Connection Agreement, were signed on December 29, 2020, for a 20-year term. The wind farm will be situated in the Absheron and Khizi districts, near the Chayli and Sitalchay villages.
During the exhibition, WiRE team members engaged with ACWA Power's Gender Issues Liaison Elnara Gafarova to discuss potential cooperation opportunities.
Conclusion:
WiRE Azerbaijan's participation in the 12th Caspian International Power and Green Energy Exhibition facilitated valuable interactions with leading renewable energy companies. These engagements highlight the ongoing commitment to fostering partnerships and advancing renewable energy initiatives in Azerbaijan. The collaborations discussed with Masdar and ACWA Power promise to enhance WiRE's role in the renewable energy sector and contribute to the broader goals of sustainable energy development in the region.
