Azerbaijan plans to commission 7 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 - ministry

BAKU. Sept 18 (Interfax) - Azerbaijan plans to commission 7 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, Deputy Energy Minister Orkhan Zeynalov said at the Caspian Energy Forum in Baku on Wednesday.

"Capacity of 2 GW will be built to supply the domestic market, 4 GW for exports along the Black Sea green energy corridor from Azerbaijan and Georgia to Europe and 1 GW for export along the corridor through the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic to Turkey and Europe," he said.

Azerbaijan's onshore renewable energy potential is 135 GW and offshore 157 GW, he said.

"The Energy Ministry, together with international energy companies and international financial institutions, is working on renewable energy projects with total capacity of 28 GW. These projects will free up an estimated 0.8-1 billion cubic meters of gas for export by 2027-2030. There is a goal to increase the share of renewables in the energy system's installed capacity to 30% by 2030. However, given the current pace at which green energy is developing, this will rise to 32.6% by 2027 and 35% by 2030," Zeynalov said.

Installed renewable energy capacity in Azerbaijan at present is about 1.7 GW or 20.9% of total installed generating capacity.