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WindEurope and the Azerbaijan Renewable Energy Agency have signed an MoU to boost wind energy deployment in Azerbaijan and the Caspian Sea area. This collaboration will tap into the vast wind potential in the region, aligning with the global goal of tripling renewable capacity by 2030.
Azerbaijan has significant potential for both onshore and offshore wind energy development. The government targets renewables to constitute 30% of total electricity capacity by 2030 and aims to export wind energy to Europe via a Caspian-EU Green Energy Corridor. Collaborative efforts have already begun with Georgia, Romania, and Hungary for a subsea cable under the Black Sea.
Each new wind turbine in Europe and neighboring regions generates an average of €13m. Expanding wind farms will not only green Azerbaijan’s electricity supply but also yield substantial economic benefits, providing the EU with another reliable source of clean electricity.
The memorandum signed by WindEurope and the Azerbaijan Renewable Energy Agency commits to cooperation across various areas:
- Establishing competition criteria, including qualitative factors like biodiversity protection and job creation.
- Recognizing the importance of maritime spatial planning and grid development for offshore wind.
- Simplifying permitting processes for efficient wind farm development.
- Exploring opportunities for local and European sourcing of wind energy components.
- Sharing best practices and knowledge for wind energy deployment and grid interconnectors.
- Facilitating the linkage between European electricity off-takers and wind energy generated in Azerbaijan to optimize electricity flow.
- Advancing the Caspian-EU Green Energy Corridor, focusing on the development of an electricity interconnector to connect Azerbaijan’s grid with Europe via Georgia, Romania, and Hungary.
WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson added, “WindEurope are honoured to sign this MoU with Azerbaijan to help them build out their wind, both onshore and offshore in the Caspian. It’s great they want to build so much, and that they want to export the energy to Europe through the planned Black Sea cable. It’s win-win collaboration.”
