Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 6
By Sara Israfilbayova– Trend:
BP is interested in developing alternative energy in Azerbaijan, BP Azerbaijan Vice President Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli told Trend.
“Recently, we met with Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov,” said Aslanbayli. “Foreign experts and leaders from the BP head office who are engaged in development of alternative energy also attended the meeting.”
He noted that during the meeting, an agreement was reached to create a working group in order to further discuss this issue, as well as to sign a memorandum of understanding.
He added that the document is planned to be signed before the end of this year.
Azerbaijan is taking serious steps to develop alternative energy. To this end, negotiations are underway with foreign companies and investors, including companies from China, the UAE, the US and the EU.
For example, the Norwegian company DNV GL will help create a support system and a legal framework in Azerbaijan's alternative energy sector.
Most of Azerbaijan's potential in this sector comes from the solar energy and this potential is estimated at 5,000 megawatts.
Wind power accounts for 4,500 megawatts, biomass for 1,500 megawatts, geothermal energy for 800 megawatts, and the remaining 350 megawatts account for small hydropower plants.
The potential of renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan exceeds 25,300 megawatts, which will allow generating 62.8 billion kilowatt hours of electricity annually.
In January-October 2018, hydropower production amounted to 1,528.4 kilowatt hours, solar energy to 35.1 kilowatt hours and wind power to 42.5 kilowatt hours, according to the State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan.
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