Azerbaijan eyes rooftop solar, bioenergy to boost renewables

Following electrification efforts, Azerbaijan plans to adopt rooftop solar panels, solar collectors to reduce consumption, and biogas solutions from wastewater, Rana Humbatova, Deputy Director of the State Agency for Renewable Energy under the Ministry of Energy, said during the second day of Baku Climate Action Week (BCAW2025), Report informs.

She emphasized that a key issue for households is conducting energy audits: "Based on these audits, specific energy efficiency measures can be implemented. Solving this issue is among our immediate priorities."

Humbatova also mentioned that a law on the use of renewable energy in electricity generation is in the works: "It's crucial for the government to establish rules that allow investors to operate in this market. Currently, we have two pathways: auctions and direct negotiations."

She noted that the first auction was held during COP29, where a Chinese company offered the lowest bid-$0.0354 per kilowatt-hour-for a 100 MW solar project.

Reliable partners like Masdar, ACWA Power, and BP are involved in direct negotiations, she added.

Highlighting recent progress, Humbatova said that launching a large-scale wind power plant could significantly increase renewable electricity production: "In 2023, a 230 MW solar plant was commissioned in partnership with Masdar. According to the State Statistics Committee, from 2023 to 2024, renewable energy generation doubled, and now 13.5% of our electricity grid comes from renewables."