New wind farm in Kalbajar highlights push for clean energy in liberated areas

The Western Azerbaijani district of Kalbajar is preparing to further embrace wind energy with the construction of a high-altitude wind farm kicking off.

The energy project in one of the country's districts that is undergoing heavy reconstruction efforts following its liberation from a decades-long military occupation is being implemented by the joint venture Kalbajar Energy LLC together with local and Turkish partners, as highlighted by Report.

The high-altitude wind power plant (WPP) will have an initial capacity of 240 MW, with Turkish Baltech Green LLC, which is assisting in the development of the project, calling it the beginning of efforts to measure the wind potential of the Kalbajar region.

Currently, two wind measurement masts are already in operation in the region, which are collecting data. A LiDAR system will soon be added, enabling even more precise assessment of the site’s potential.

The project was approved last year within the framework of COP29 when a MoU was signed between Azerbaijan's State Agency for Renewable Energy Sources with Clean Energy Invest LLC (a subsidiary of Azerbaijan Green Energy Company [AGEC]), and Baltech Green LLC for the development of the Kalbajar Wind Power Plant. 

Scheduled to be built at an altitude of 3,100 meters above sea level, the project bears a unique characteristic. 

The commercial operation of the station is expected to begin in early 2028 with an initial capacity of 240 MW, while the project could eventually reach a total capacity of 600 MW.

According to Azerbaijan’s national energy strategy, the country aims to construct eight industrial-scale solar and wind power plants with a combined capacity of around 2 GW by 2027. The total investment in these projects is estimated at $2.8 billion, financed through both foreign and domestic sources. By 2030, Azerbaijan aims to reach an installed renewable energy capacity of 6 GW, of which 4 GW is planned for export.

The implementation of these initiatives will enable Azerbaijan to generate 5.3 billion kWh of green energy annually and increase the share of renewable energy sources (RES) within the national energy system to 32.6%. This would allow for a reduction of 1.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas in usage per year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2.5 million tons.

By Nazrin Sadigova