Azerbaijan’s Kalbajar hydropower plants advance toward international carbon certification PHOTO

Five small hydropower plants in Azerbaijan’s Kalbajar district have been prepared to receive international carbon certificates as part of the country’s efforts to expand renewable energy projects and participate in global carbon markets.

According to Caliber.Az, citing AzerEnerji OJSC, the Chirag-1, Chirag-2, Soyugbulag, Meydan, and Gamishli small hydropower plants have successfully completed the registration process for obtaining international carbon certificates.

The company said that the projects, implemented in cooperation with SOCAR Trading, will have their annual carbon emissions reductions verified at 37,000 tonnes, after which the corresponding carbon certificates will be issued.

Azerbaijan has already taken its first steps in the international carbon market through renewable energy projects. In January, the Mirik and Garagishlag small hydropower plants located in Lachin received 10,745 carbon credits from Switzerland-based international carbon certification organisation Gold Standard.

AzerEnerji described the achievement as a significant milestone, noting that these were the first carbon credits obtained by Azerbaijan on the international carbon market through renewable energy initiatives.

The process of obtaining carbon certification is also continuing for other hydropower facilities. International registration is currently underway for the Mishni, Alkhasli, and Aghbulag-2 hydropower plants in Lachin.

Meanwhile, project documentation for the Shayifli, Jahangirbeyli, Zangilan, and Sheylanli hydropower plants in Zangilan is being reviewed by international experts as part of the certification process.

AzerEnerji noted that the Aghbulag-2 and Sheylanli hydropower plants were commissioned on July 11, while other facilities were launched earlier between 2023 and 2025 with the participation of President Ilham Aliyev.