Azerbaijan sees time zones as advantage for renewable energy links

The time difference between regions gives Azerbaijan an important advantage in renewable energy, Deputy Energy Minister Orkhan Zeynalov said.

According to Report, Zeynalov made the remarks at the Second Azerbaijan International Investment Forum (AIIF 2026) in Baku.

He said Azerbaijan is also advancing initiatives including the Caspian-Black Sea-Europe project, the Azerbaijan-Türkiye interconnector and the three-corridor initiative.

"These initiatives are considered in an interconnected manner. They do not compete with one another; on the contrary, they complement each other. When we hold talks with our partners in other projects, they ask what future connectivity with Central Asian states will look like," he said.

Zeynalov added that Azerbaijan also has a technical advantage in the energy sector.

"There is a 3-4 hour time difference between the regions, which is a major advantage for variable renewable energy sources," he said.

"I think one of the biggest advantages is the opportunity to connect these distant regions - Central Asia, Azerbaijan playing a key role in the middle, the Black Sea, Türkiye and the Middle East as a whole - with Europe," Zeynalov added.