Azerbaijan, China sign major renewable energy agreements during President Aliyev's visit Photo

During President Ilham Aliyev’s state visit to China, Azerbaijan signed six major agreements with Chinese partners to boost cooperation in the renewable energy sector, covering projects in solar, wind and energy storage.

The deals include the development of solar and wind power plants totalling more than 2.4 GW in capacity, Caliber.Az reports, referencing Azerbaijan's Ministry of Energy.

Among the headline projects is a 100 MW solar power plant in Gobustan, to be developed by Universal Solar Azerbaijan LLC under an investment agreement with Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Energy. Scheduled for commissioning in 2026, the facility is expected to generate 180 million kWh of electricity annually, saving 39 million cubic metres of natural gas and cutting carbon emissions by 86,000 tonnes.

In another significant step, an executive agreement was inked with China Energy Overseas Investment Co. Ltd. to explore and implement an offshore wind energy project in the Caspian Sea with a minimum capacity of 2 GW. This cooperation will cover the full project cycle, from feasibility studies and design to construction and maintenance.

A further agreement with China Datang Overseas Investment Co. Ltd and SOCAR Green LLC paves the way for a 100 MW floating solar power plant on Lake Boyukshor, integrated with a 30 MW battery storage system. The newly formed project company will lead development and operations.

PowerChina Resources Limited and SOCAR Green LLC also signed an implementation agreement for a 160 MW solar power plant, with plans to integrate energy storage in the future. The plant is expected to go online in 2028 and produce 332 million kWh of electricity per year—equivalent to saving 73 million cubic metres of gas and reducing emissions by 160,000 tonnes.

In addition to project-specific deals, the parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the development of another 2 GW offshore wind project in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. A Steering Committee and Working Group will coordinate planning and regulatory processes.

Finally, a memorandum was concluded with China’s Electric Power Planning & Engineering Institute to support Azerbaijan’s long-term electric power system planning. The agreement will focus on integrating renewables into the national grid post-2028, with studies to evaluate capacity needs and technical feasibility.

The agreements mark a significant deepening of energy ties between Baku and Beijing, positioning Azerbaijan as a regional hub for green energy development.

By Aghakazim Guliyev