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.
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including thr...
Iran and the U.S. exchanged threats on Tuesday, as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Tehran to expect the&nb...
Up to 30 tonnes of food will be delivered to Iran amidst ongoing hostilities with U.S. and Israel, following a phone converstation between the ...
The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of global concern as tensions rise following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israe...
Reports of so-called “acid clouds” moving from Iran towards Central Asia are not supported by scientif...
Up to 30 tonnes of food will be delivered to Iran amidst ongoing hostilities with U.S. and Israel, following a phone converstation between the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Iranian counterpart Massoud Pezeshkian.
Azerbaijan is evacuating nearly 200 people from the Middle East on a special charter flight departing from Oman.
Türkiye’s official anti-disinformation agency has issued a statement refuting what it described as online “disinformation” and reiterating the strength of relations between Türkiye and Azerbaijan.
Almost 2,000 people have been evacuated from Iran via Azerbaijan since conflict erupted in the Middle East.
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
The death toll from heavy rains and flooding in Brazil’s Minas Gerais state has risen to 46, authorities said, with 21 people still reported missing. The storms triggered landslides and widespread flooding, displacing thousands across Juiz de Fora and Uba.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday (12 February) announced the repeal of a scientific finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger human health, and eliminated federal tailpipe emissions standards for cars and trucks.
Tropical Cyclone Gezani has killed at least 31 people and left four others missing after tearing through eastern Madagascar, the government said on Wednesday, with the island nation’s second-largest city bearing the brunt of the destruction.
Rivers and reservoirs across Spain and Portugal were on the verge of overflowing on Wednesday as a new weather front pounded the Iberian peninsula, compounding damage from last week's Storm Kristin.
Morocco has evacuated more than 100,000 people from four provinces after heavy rainfall triggered flash floods across several northern regions, the Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment