Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 20 / Trend E.Ismayilov /
The State Agency for Alternative and Renewable Energy under the Azerbaijani Industry and Energy Ministry intends to bring the proportion of alternative energy sources in the total energy mix to 20 percent by 2020, Agency Head Akim Badalov said.
He said that today's share of alternative sources in the country, given the use of small hydropower stations, is 10 percent.
The agency pays great attention to studying the experience of countries which have already achieved some success in applying these technologies, while drafting plans on the alternative energy sources in Azerbaijan. The agency also intends to consider mistakes made by these countries in the alternative energy development.
Badalov named high prices for energy produced by alternative sources, huge subsidies, and a high cost of technology in the field. The main objective of renewable energy development in Azerbaijan is to achieve the lowest possible tariffs.
He said it will be possible to name the volume of necessary tariffs and subsidies following the accumulation of necessary statistical data and conclusions derived from the Gobustan polygon, which was recently commissioned.
Studies conducted in the alternative energy sources will allow choosing the most appropriate location for placing the technology on regeneration of energy sources. When placing alternative energy objects, the agency will take into account the principles of urban development, tourist accommodation, and farm facilities. Particularly, one of the options for placing wind energy regeneration plants is offshore zones.
Baku hosted an Agency meeting with an Austrian delegation. The two sides exchanged views on the organization of power distribution systems, and heating and cooling systems in Vienna, and a proportion of those processes in alternative energy sources.
Badalov noted that the main purpose for these exchanges is to establish similar systems in Azerbaijan's large cities as Baku, Sumgait, Ganja, Nakhichivan and others.