Bulgarian newspaper: Azerbaijan seeks long-term benefits from green energy

Having received the right to host the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) last year, the Republic of Azerbaijan has set itself the goal of moving towards green energy in the next decade. Although the country has rich oil and gas reserves, it is seeking long-term benefits from green energy, reads an article published on the website of the Bulgarian national information newspaper "Standard", Report informs.

The Bulgarian newspaper emphasized that Azerbaijan has expressed its desire to make green energy policy a priority in creating healthy living conditions for its citizens, as well as promoting the creation of a safe living environment for people in the region and the world as a whole.

“In 2021, at the COP26 summit in Glasgow, Azerbaijan reaffirmed its goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% and create a “net zero emissions” zone in the territories recently liberated from Armenian occupation. The Karabakh and East Zangazur economic regions, as well as the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan, were declared green energy zones, since these regions have significant potential for the use of various renewable energy sources, including hydropower, solar energy, wind energy, and geothermal energy,” reads the article.

The paper also reported that according to official data, the total renewable energy potential of these territories is 15 GW. In the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, 11 wind power plants (HPPs) with a capacity of 53.6 MW have already been put into operation, 7 HPPs with a capacity of 70.5 MW are under construction, and this year it is planned to launch the construction of another 9 plants with a total capacity of 76.8 MW.

“The Azerbaijani government has set itself the goal of increasing the share of installed renewable energy capacity from the current 17% to 30% of the country’s overall energy balance by 2030 - by creating a sustainable electricity transition to reduce the use of natural gas for electricity generation in the country. There are also plans to diversify energy exports to global energy and increase support for partners’ energy security.

The green energy projects being implemented in Azerbaijan demonstrate the country's role as a reliable energy partner and a responsible member of the international community in the fight against global warming. Azerbaijan will chair the UN Climate Summit, which will be held in November 2024 in Baku, an important platform for ensuring international cooperation in joint action to combat climate change,” the article says.