BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 10
By Anastasia Savchenko - Trend:
Azerbaijan has specific goals and a policy decision on increasing the share of renewable energy sources in electricity production, Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan Parviz Shahbazov told Trend.
“Due to renewable energy sources in the Strategic Road Map on the development of public utilities (electric and thermal energy, water and gas) in Azerbaijan, approved by the relevant decree of the Azerbaijani president in 2016, the creation of a new generating capacity of 420 megawatts is envisaged,” Shahbazov said.
“For this purpose, cooperation documents were signed with nine international energy companies, discussions were held, and proposals for the implementation of projects using wind and solar energy were received. Foreign financial partners are interested in investing in wind energy projects and cooperating with Azerbaijan in this field. At the initial stage, it is planned to implement pilot projects for 440 megawatts,” the minister said.
“Under the decree of Azerbaijani president on measures for implementation of pilot projects in the use of renewable energy sources dated December 5, 2019, a commission was created, and seven working groups were formed to carry out the necessary activities,” Shahbazov said.
“Proposals on the allocation of land for pilot projects, the issuance of state guarantees to investors, the connection of power plants for projects to electric networks, and the strengthening of the network will be made within four months,” the minister said.
Along with pilot projects, after the adoption of the law, an auction of projects in selected territories is planned, Shahbazov said.
“With the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), an auction preparation project is being implemented, within the framework of which work is underway to form a regulatory legal framework that manages auctions,” the minister said.
“We believe that 2020 will be the beginning of a new stage in the development of renewable energy in our country”, Shahbazov said.
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