Shahbazov calls for urgent international cooperation in green energy projects

International cooperation is of decisive importance for the implementation of projects in the field of "green" energy, and the time for their practical realization has already come, Azerbaijan's Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov said at the 31st Baku Energy Forum.

Report quotes him as saying the "green" energy projects being implemented in the region are aimed at ensuring future energy security.

"We must start implementing them already today, because it will not happen overnight. In this sense, international cooperation is very important. Many of the countries represented here today are participating in all these projects. We must work together, and this is our advantage," the minister emphasized.

Shahbazov noted that the main components of energy security are energy production, interconnectedness, logistics, as well as the integration of production and consumption sides.

According to him, if one assesses the potential of solar and wind energy, especially offshore wind energy in the Caspian region, it becomes obvious that the volumes of potential generation significantly exceed the internal needs of the countries of the region.

"This energy can also be supplied to the European market, where it is needed. If we look at the statistics of demand growth in the European electricity market, by 2030 the additional need will be about 300 TWh. If we take into account the development of data processing centers for artificial intelligence, digitalization, electric transport and other areas, this indicator will practically double," he said.

The minister noted that in Europe the need for new energy sources and additional volumes of electricity will increase.

At the same time, he said, issues of grid flexibility must be taken into account.

"We see that already today the integration of renewable energy into energy systems can lead to grid congestion problems. This is observed everywhere. This problem exists on a global scale, and we must work on solving it," Shahbazov added.