Baku: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the inauguration of the 100 MW Gobustan Solar Power Plant in Baku's Garadagh district. The event marked a significant step in Azerbaijan's renewable energy initiatives.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Azerbaijan Lu Mei, and Chief Executive Officer of Universal International Holdings Limited Yi Nan welcomed President Aliyev at the inauguration. The President was briefed on the operations of Universal Energy, a Shanghai-based Chinese company specializing in green energy and energy storage system solutions, which is responsible for the project.

The Gobustan Solar Power Plant project is notable for being the first in Azerbaijan to be implemented through an auction process, with Universal International Holdings Limited winning the bid in 2024. This project marks Universal Energy's pioneering venture in Azerbaijan, adding to its existing renewable energy projects in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers had designated a 300.77-hectare plot in Baku's Garadagh district for this renewable energy site.

The plant's infrastructure includes solar panels, field inverters, and transformers, with all cabling works completed. The Gobustan Solar Power Plant is expected to generate approximately 200 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. This output will save 45 million cubic meters of natural gas each year and reduce carbon emissions by 97,000 tons.

Under President Ilham Aliyev's leadership, Azerbaijan prioritizes the widespread use of renewable energy sources. The country possesses significant technical and economic potential for green energy, with estimates of 135 GW onshore and 157 GW offshore. The Gobustan Solar Power Plant enhances the total capacity of renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan to 2,170 MW. The nation currently hosts 85 power plants, including hydroelectric, wind, solar, hybrid, and biomass plants, and renewables account for 21.5 percent of the total power generation capacity.

Looking ahead, Azerbaijan plans to implement additional renewable energy projects totaling approximately 1.5 GW by the end of 2027. These initiatives, conducted with local and international partners, aim to bolster the country's electricity supply, conserve natural gas, and further reduce carbon emissions.