Samir Akhundov: Stable network necessary for integration of renewables

One of the main conditions for the successful integration of renewables in Azerbaijan is the stability of the energy grid, Samir Akhundov, Chairman of the Energy Regulatory Agency under the Ministry of Energy, said at the 30th Baku Energy Forum.

Report quotes Akhundov as saying the growing global and local demand for energy necessitates a rethinking of both the production and transmission methods of electricity:

“We must admit that tomorrow will depend on how we supply the world with energy, and on how committed we are to our commitments to decarbonization, innovation, sustainability and development.”

Akhundov noted that currently, the generation potential for renewable energy in Azerbaijan exceeds 8 gigawatts:

"Thanks to a successful and well-thought-out energy policy, Azerbaijan today ensures energy security entirely at the expense of its own resources. Currently, the majority of generation capacity is accounted for by traditional gas-fired thermal power plants. However, over the next two years, more than 30% of the total capacity is expected to be accounted for by renewable energy sources. And this is just the beginning. Azerbaijan has great potential in this area."