Masdar: Azerbaijan’s energy ambitions extend beyond “green” exports to Europe

Azerbaijan intends to extend its role in the renewable energy sector beyond European exports, with Masdar, the Abu Dhabi-based clean energy firm, poised to leverage its expertise in sustainable aviation fuel production from the UAE within the country.

Murad Sadigov, head of Masdar’s Azerbaijan office, made the remarks during his address at Baku Climate Action Week (BCAW2025), Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

Sadigov said that the development of renewable energy in Azerbaijan is not limited to export projects but also focuses on enhancing the resilience and reliability of the country’s energy system.

“The value of energy lies in its stability; unstable energy is worthless,” he said, noting that Azerbaijan’s energy policy is designed both to ensure investors’ access to the grid and to maintain a sustainable power supply.

He highlighted the importance of energy storage, grid balancing, and combining different renewable sources, as well as ongoing research into offshore wind and green hydrogen.

Masdar is actively investing in green hydrogen production and has already launched a pilot project for sustainable aviation fuel in the UAE, which it plans to replicate in Azerbaijan.

Masdar has also begun the UAE’s largest “round-the-clock” generation project, combining 5.5 GW of solar power with 19 GWh of storage. The company intends to introduce similar solutions in Azerbaijan on a smaller scale.

“Such technological challenges bring renewable energy closer to the performance of conventional generation,” Sadigov said. “This is possible thanks to the Azerbaijani government’s support and the availability of skilled personnel, as the country has long been a leading energy hub and is now transferring innovations to the renewable sector.”

He noted that the Azerbaijani government is investing in grid modernisation and recently announced the construction of two major energy storage systems to manage frequency and power flows, further strengthening network reliability.

Sadigov added that Azerbaijan’s ambitions extend well beyond supplying green energy to Europe. “We have witnessed agreements signed with Central Asia. This is a step towards creating a large-scale energy network that will ensure stability across the region. Azerbaijan is becoming the heart of an energy hub that will play a key role in the energy transition not only for the Caucasus but for the whole of Eurasia,” he said.

By Aghakazim Guliyev