Azerbaijan enjoys a vast potential of renewable energy sources and strives to make use of it.
In 2018 electricity produced from renewable sources will exceed 10% of the total energy generated in Azerbaijan, Deputy Chairman of The State Agency on Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jamil Malikov declared.
It is forecast that this figure will have reached 12% by 2020, and by 2030 it should reach 20%, he said.
“This requires investment, appropriate regulatory framework and an optimal tariff policy. In 2017 the volume of electricity produced from renewable sources amounted to 9.8% of the total energy production. In alternative energy the energy losses are very small, since production facilities are located in close proximity to the end user,” Malikov noted.
Malikov stressed that in the production of energy from renewable sources, high-voltage lines were not used and when high-voltage lines were used, it was necessary to transform the voltage from high to low.
He went on to say that in 2018 the share of renewable energy would be higher than in 2017, and the prerequisite for this was that one large 50 megawatt wind farm “Yeni Yashma” and two small stations had been put into operation.
“We hope that in the current year the share of renewable energy sources in the total electricity generation will exceed the 10% level,” the deputy chairman added.
The electricity generation capacity of Azerbaijan is 7,172.6 megawatts, which makes it possible to annually generate about 24 billion kilowatt-hours. This allows Azerbaijan to annually export 2.1 billion kilowatt-hours.
Today the share of alternative energy sources in the electricity supply of Azerbaijan is 9.5%. In recent years the development of renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan, the largest South Caucasus state on the Caspian shore, has been in the focus of attention. Currently, the country is able to fully meet its own energy needs, and seeks to supply power to the European market.
Azerbaijan was able to build a strong power system in less than 20 years, conducting reconstruction and renovation of old generating capacities and creating new ones.
The energy-rich country generates power through hydroelectric, wind and solar power plants, as well as biogas installations. At the moment, the capacity of Azerbaijan’s electricity system exceeds 12,000 megawatt. The total potential of renewable energy sources exceeds 25,300 megawatt.
A major part of the country’s capacity in this area accounts for solar energy, while its potential is estimated at 5,000 megawatts. Some 4,500 megawatts account for wind power, 1,500 megawatts – for biomass, 800 megawatts – for geothermal energy, and the remaining 350 megawatts – for the small hydro power plants (HPP).
The State Agency on Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources of Azerbaijan has determined areas, capacities, amounts to be invested in producing 4,200 megawatts in 2018-2020 and other required information.
In the coming years the agency plans to implement 23 projects worth about 13 million manats as part of the Strategic Roadmap for the Development of Public Utilities (Electric and Thermal Energy, Water and Gas).
The projects include construction of wind, hydro and biofuel power plants with a total capacity of 4,200 megawatts. This is while 3,500 megawatts will account for wind power plants, 500 megawatts for solar power plants, and 200 megawatts will account for biofuel power plants. The cost of building wind power plants will be 10.2 million manats, solar – 1.48 million manats, and biofuel – 1.16 million manats.
Azerbaijan aims to increase usage of renewable energy sources and the country has all opportunities for this. (AzerNews/Business World Magazine)