Official: German-Azerbaijani cooperation vital for Azerbaijan’s clean energy future

Germany can make a significant contribution to the creation of an innovation center for renewable energy sources (RES) in Azerbaijan, according to Nargis Wieck, the executive director of the German-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce.

"The German economy is highly respected and recognized in Azerbaijan, and we can play an important role in the development of the country, especially in the creation of an innovation hub for RES and the expansion of infrastructure along the Middle Corridor," she noted, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

"Our contribution is not only technology but, above all, the transfer of know-how to ensure long-term and sustainable growth," Wieck said.

Azerbaijan has ambitious plans, including the construction of eight industrial solar and wind power plants with a total capacity of about 2 GW by 2027. The total investment in these projects is estimated at $2.8 billion, with funding coming from both foreign and local investments.

The implementation of these plans will allow Azerbaijan to produce 5.3 billion kWh of "green" energy annually, increasing the share of RES in the country's energy system to 32.6%. This will also save 1.2 billion cubic meters of gas per year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2.5 million tons.

By 2030, Azerbaijan aims to reach 7 GW of installed RES capacity, with 5 GW of that planned for export.

The Middle Corridor, which connects China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye, and Europe, is pivotal in the development of regional logistics. In 2023, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Kazakhstan signed an agreement to establish a joint railway company, Middle Corridor Multimodal Ltd., to improve transit efficiency.

Freight traffic along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) increased by 62%, reaching 4.5 million tons in 2024. Projections for 2025 show further growth to 5.2 million tons, with 4.2 million tons passing through TMTM member countries. Of this, 2.5 million tons will be dry cargo (96,000 TEU) and 1.7 million tons will be oil.

By 2027, the route’s throughput capacity is expected to reach 10 million tons, significantly enhancing its strategic importance for Eurasian logistics.

By Tamilla Hasanova