Azerbaijan developing programmes to become int'l green energy hub

Azerbaijan is developing programmes to become an international energy hub, including "green" energy, Rufat Guliyev, member of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor, said on March 31.

He told Trend that their implementation is very important as it contributes to the inflow of foreign currency into the national economy, the opening of new jobs, and further growth of the country's image in the international arena.

Guliyev stressed that the national interests of Azerbaijan in international projects of the country and politics are always in the first place.

Azerbaijan is one of the strong countries, which successfully produces, supplies, and transits hydrocarbons, he said.

Ilgar Velizade, Ph.D. in Economics, told Trend that Azerbaijan is on the way to the formation of the "green energy" agenda.

He noted that in recent years Azerbaijan has created quite an effective infrastructure, which is sharpened to deliver large amounts of "green" energy to European markets.

"Besides, Azerbaijan attracts funds from foreign investors for the implementation of these projects, in particular, such companies as MASDAR, Acwa Power, bp, and others specializing in the production of this type of energy. The number of projects and initiatives for the construction of solar and wind power plants is also growing day by day, with a significant part of them in the Absheron peninsula and near Baku. This geography is expected to be expanded through the use of Caspian Sea resources, as well as liberated areas. The total potential of green energy generation capacity of Azerbaijan exceeds 200,000 megawatts," Velizade said.