Abu Dhabi's Masdar has signed an agreement with Azerbaijan's Ministry of Energy to design, finance, build and operate a 200-megawatt utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) project in the country.

 

In the presence of Prime Minister Ali Asadov of Azerbaijan, the implementation agreement was signed at a ceremony held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, by Parviz Shahbazov, Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan, and Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar.

 

Under the agreement, Masdar will develop, build and operate the 200MW solar PV project, which will be located 75 km southwest of Baku. Financial close on the project is targeted for the end of 2020, while commercial operation is expected to be achieved in 2022.

 

Shahbazov said: "The diversification of electricity production via utilising renewable energy sources is one of the main priorities of focus by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. By signing this agreement, from now on, we are starting a new phase in the renewable energy sector of Azerbaijan. Our cooperation with Masdar, as one of our first foreign partners in the renewable energy sector, will make a contribution to achieve our goals regarding sustainable and clean energy, and facilitate to deliver our shared interests."

 

Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, said: "Today’s signing marks a major step forward for Azerbaijan and its ambitions to diversify its energy mix. As a global leader in the development of commercially viable renewable energy projects in more than 30 countries, Masdar is honoured to partner with the Republic of Azerbaijan to develop the landmark 200MW solar project. With more than a decade of experience, we are also proud to be supporting the government of Azerbaijan and its clean energy transition."

 

The solar project supports Azerbaijan’s target of producing 30 percent of its domestic power needs from renewable energy sources by 2030.

 

Masdar’s expanding renewable energy portfolio, which includes solar, wind and waste-to-energy, as well as Masdar’s sustainable real estate investments, battery electric storage and other energy-efficiency technologies will be on display at the Masdar stand at the World Future Energy Summit, WFES, from 13th to 16 January 2020. WFES is the anchor event of the Masdar-hosted Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, one of the world’s largest sustainability gatherings. -TradeArabia News Service