ADB allocates $700,000 for Baku Metro decarbonisation project

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved technical assistance worth $700,000 to support the decarbonisation of the Baku Metro, aiming to create a “smart and sustainable urban transport system of the future.”

The funding is being provided through the Clean Energy Fund under the Clean Energy Financing Partnership Facility (CEFPF), Caliber.Az reports per local media.

The project seeks to modernise the metro network by improving energy efficiency and incorporating clean energy technologies.

The ADB said the technical assistance will include an assessment of opportunities to upgrade infrastructure to reduce energy consumption and operational costs, as well as integrate renewable energy sources such as solar panels and battery energy storage systems (BESS).

The project will also explore the potential of smart energy management systems to optimise performance, enable predictive maintenance, and analyse big data.

The bank added that this initiative forms part of a broader cooperation with Baku Metro on sustainable urban transport.

Azerbaijan has been a member of the ADB since 1999. During this period, the bank has provided more than $5 billion to the country, including $1.5 billion for transport projects and $1.7 billion for energy initiatives.

Founded in 1966 and headquartered in Manila, Philippines, the ADB has 69 member countries, including 50 in the Asia-Pacific region.

By Aghakazim Guliyev