Details unveiled for next stage of “Green Corridor” energy project linking Caucasus to Europe

The second phase of the study for the Caspian–Black Sea–Europe Green Energy Corridor project will focus on ensuring the safe integration of energy infrastructure into the national grids of four countries, while also refining the route of the corridor in accordance with environmental standards. The phase is expected to conclude in the coming months.

Andrea Meola, Director of Global Markets and Business Development at the Italian energy consultancy CESI, announced these details during ministerial meetings held in Baku, Calber.Az reports, referring to local media.

The discussions were part of the Advisory Councils on the Southern Gas Corridor and Green Energy.

Meola noted that CESI has served as the project’s technical advisor since the beginning of 2024. “In the second phase of the study, we are concentrating on two key aspects: ensuring reliable infrastructure integration into national energy systems by strengthening alternating current connections, and thoroughly working out the route and environmental conditions for the project’s implementation,” he said.

He explained that the project envisions the strengthening of power infrastructure with high-voltage direct current (HVDC) lines in both Azerbaijan and Georgia. In addition, three submarine cables will be laid between Georgia and Romania, while the power grid infrastructure in Romania and Hungary will undergo modernization.

“Each of the cables will be designed to transmit 1.3 gigawatts — this is the technological ceiling at present. The Black Sea reaches depths of up to 2,000 meters, and only a handful of manufacturers in the world are capable of producing cables suitable for such conditions. We selected this specific capacity to ensure competitive bidding during the tender phase,” Meola explained. “The technology already exists, but there are bottlenecks — the demand for such cables is extremely high, and only a limited number of vessels are equipped to lay them at these depths.”

Speaking about the hydrogen component of the corridor, Meola emphasized that while it will be addressed at a later stage, it remains an essential part of the project's overall vision. “We anticipate that in the future, a portion of the electricity transmitted through the corridor will be used to produce hydrogen both in the Caucasus and in Europe,” he said.

Meola also underlined the importance of evaluating the commercial and market viability of the project in parallel with its technical development. “Ultimately, the key question is: who will purchase the electricity generated under this project?” he stated. “There are numerous scenarios for electricity trade in Europe, and this element of the analysis will determine the project's profitability and financial sustainability.”

The Green Energy Corridor is intended to create a clean electricity transmission route from the Caspian Sea through Georgia and the Black Sea to Europe, reinforcing energy security while supporting decarbonization goals across the region.

By Tamilla Hasanova