The 240-megawatt Khizi-Absheron Wind Power Plant has been inaugurated in Azerbaijan on Thursday (8 Jan) by President Ilham Aliyev, who described the launch as a landmark moment for Azerbaijan's energy sector. It's the first large-scale, independently developed wind energy project in the country.
Speaking at Gulustan Palace on the highlands over looking Baku where the project’s foundation stone was laid in January 2022, President Aliyev highlighted the three years of intensive work that led to the successful completion of the facility, costing $337.9 million.
He thanked all involved in the construction and gave special recognition to Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power, the main investor, noting that this is the company’s first renewable energy project in Azerbaijan but not the last.
“ACWA Power is a global leader in energy, and we fully support its future plans in Azerbaijan,” Aliyev said.
He added that the company is also exploring the country’s first seawater desalination plant using Caspian Sea water, describing the vast offshore wind potential of the Caspian Sea (estimated internationally at 157 gigawatts) as a major growth area for the future.
The President praised the professionalism of Azerbaijani energy specialists, noting that integrating large volumes of renewable energy into the national grid is technically complex and capital-intensive.
He reaffirmed that Azerbaijan’s energy policy is based on the parallel development of traditional and renewable generation, a strategy he described as essential for energy security.
President Ilham Aliyev stressed Azerbaijan’s stable and reliable investment climate, noting more than US$300 billion in total investment, low external debt, strong foreign currency reserves, and improved international credit ratings.
He reaffirmed that the country is a trustworthy partner, stating that no energy contracts have ever been altered and that Azerbaijan’s commitments are fully respected.
The President said Azerbaijan is becoming an increasingly important contributor to regional and international energy security, exporting oil, gas, electricity, and energy products while maintaining political and social stability.
Khizi-Absheron power plant
The Khizi-Absheron Wind Power Plant is a greenfield Independent Power Project (IPP) spanning the Absheron and Khizi districts, the 240-MW facility comprises 37 turbines (12 in Absheron and 25 in Khizi) and is designed to generate up to 907 GWh of clean electricity annually, enough to power more than 300,000 households.
The project supports Azerbaijan’s renewable energy transition, enhances energy diversification, and is projected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 400,000 tons per year.
Green energy growth
Over the past two decades, Azerbaijan’s electricity generation capacity has nearly tripled, now standing at around 10,000 megawatts.
Recent milestones include a 230-MW solar plant, the 240-MW Khizi–Absheron wind plant, and the ongoing construction of three solar plants in Jabrayil with a combined capacity of 340 MW.
Further large-scale renewable projects are planned in Bilasuvar, Neftchala, Nakhchivan, and the liberated territories, with the country’s geography allowing for energy production across nearly its entire area.
Azerbaijan is also building its first battery energy storage system, beginning with a 250-MW project by Azerenergy, and inviting foreign investors to participate in upcoming storage initiatives.
According to signed contracts, the country plans to develop 6 gigawatts of wind and solar capacity by 2030 and up to 8 gigawatts by 2032, supplemented by hydropower.
In Karabakh and East Zangazur, around 40 small hydropower plants have been built with a combined capacity exceeding 300 MW.
A Kyiv-Warsaw train was struck near the Polish border, Ukraine's state railway firm said on Sunday. No passengers were injured. Ukrai...
Maritime trackers received new reports of an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to the ...
Indonesian rescuers are searching for 130 people after a passenger ship carrying 243 people sank in the Java Sea following bad weather, while 113 p...
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New Delhi on Friday to attend the weekend BRICS summit, amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, joining a host of foreign dignitaries.
Maritime trackers received new reports of an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), adding to concerns about energy supplies after Saudi Arabia shut down a vital oil pipeline on Saturday.
A Kyiv-Warsaw train was struck near the Polish border, Ukraine's state railway firm said on Sunday. No passengers were injured. Ukrainian Railways said that the country's railways were facing systematic attacks for a second day and warned of widespread delays.
Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut down its 1,200-kilometre East-West oil pipeline after it was hit by a drone attack, with Riyadh and Baghdad saying the strike originated from Iraq.
Dubai’s property market has spent years climbing. Now, for the first time since 2021, prices are moving in the opposite direction.
August 2026 tied as the hottest month ever recorded globally, pushing average temperatures above the critical 1.5°C threshold as extreme weather swept across several regions, the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service said.
Increasingly intense wildfires and heat waves are threatening global efforts to improve air quality and protect public health, the United Nations’ weather agency has warned.
Vast flocks of storks passed through Türkiye and the Bosporus this week as part of their annual autumn migration from European breeding grounds toward Africa and the Middle East.
China's coastal areas and southern regions are preparing for days of intense precipitation, with tens of thousands of people evacuated as Typhoon Narra tracks inland and another storm churns toward the country's eastern seaboard.
A wildfire in Croatia driven by strong winds descended on the tourist town of Omis overnight, engulfing houses, forcing about 1,000 people to evacuate to safety and injuring dozens, fire brigade and health officials said on Friday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment