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.
The death of a laboratory employee at a Russian plague research institute in Siberia has triggered a major public health response and international...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of a deadly drone strike on a Türkiye-owned cargo ship in the Black Sea, killing it...
Regional powers gathered in Moscow on Monday for talks on Afghanistan, focusing on security, economic cooperation and Kabul’s relations with ...
Iran's Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad has resigned, with Hamid Bovard, chief executive of the state-owned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), appointed as acting oil minister, according to Iranian state media.
Right-wing Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro will face leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff of the presidential election later this month, after he exceeded expectations in Sunday's first-round vote with a slight lead over the incumbent.
Candidates elected to Bosnia and Herzegovina's three-member presidency declared victory after preliminary unofficial results showed Denis Becirovic leading the Bosniak seat, Darijana Filipovic ahead in the Croat seat and Zeljka Cvijanovic likely retaining the Serb seat.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States meets seven conditions agreed under a June memorandum, as President Donald Trump signals he may soon decide whether to resume military operations against Tehran.
Uzbekistan’s grape exports have grown rapidly. In January-August 2025, the country exported 86,200 tonnes of fresh grapes worth $78.3 million to 19 countries but can it turn these crops into a recognisable international product?
Türkiye’s COP31 presidency has unveiled an action agenda designed to turn climate commitments into concrete projects and measurable results, focusing on clean energy, waste reduction, resilient cities and industrial decarbonisation.
Greenland and Antarctica have shed a combined 11.3 trillion tonnes of ice since 1979, according to the most comprehensive satellite study of the planet's ice sheets to date, with researchers warning the pace of loss has accelerated sharply in recent decades.
The European Union will continue allowing large-scale plastic waste exports to Türkiye despite concerns over recycling rates, environmental damage and the risk of illegal waste trafficking.
Hundreds of thousands of deep-diving turtles, known as olive ridley sea turtles, have arrived on Mexico’s southern coast for one of nature’s most striking nesting events. But conservation officials warn that climate change is making it increasingly difficult for their eggs to hatch.
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.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment