Triparty deal to develop 3.5GW offshore wind projects in Azerbaijan

MoU for offshore wind projects in Azerbaijan
Image Via: WAM | Cropped by GBN
By Arya M Nair, Official Reporter
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Masdar has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SOCAR Green and ACWA Power, to develop 3.5 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind projects in the Azerbaijan section of the Caspian Sea.

Once completed, this would be the first offshore wind projects in Azerbaijan. The agreement supports plans by Azerbaijan to develop renewable energy, green hydrogen and water desalination projects.

The MoU was signed by Rovshan Najaf, President of SOCAR, Abdulaziz Alobaidli, Chief Operating Officer of Masdar, and Marco Arcelli, Chief Executive Officer of ACWA Power.

Under the agreement, the signing parties will follow a Corporation Roadmap to identify key development milestones they want to achieve in the development of offshore wind in Azerbaijan.

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Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi
CEO – Masdar

“Azerbaijan is a key strategic partner for Masdar and the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding with our partners today paves the way to accelerate the scale of Azerbaijan’s clean energy vision. We are proud to expand our partnership with ACWA Power and SOCAR to further explore renewable energy projects in the region, especially the enormous offshore wind potential in the Caspian Sea.”

Marco Arcelli, Chief Executive Officer of ACWA Power, said that, “We are excited to build on our collaboration with Masdar and SOCAR to advance clean energy globally. United by a shared vision for a sustainable, decarbonised future, this partnership supports Azerbaijan’s net-zero ambitions and sets a strong industry example.”

Rovshan Najaf, President of SOCAR, remarked that, “By leveraging the combined expertise of SOCAR, Masdar, and ACWA Power, we aim to unlock the vast offshore wind potential of the Caspian Sea, supporting Azerbaijan’s energy transition targets. These projects not only reflect our dedication to clean energy but also to economic growth and environmental stewardship for future generations.”

The new offshore wind projects will contribute to Azerbaijan’s growing renewable energy portfolio and complement Masdar’s existing projects, which include Masdar’s landmark 230MW capacity Garadagh solar power plant, along with the 315MW Neftchala Solar Power Plant and 445MW Bilasuvar Solar Power Plant, both jointly developed with SOCAR Green; and ACWA Power’s 240MW Khizi-Absheron wind power plant.

These initiatives are designed to enhance energy security, create jobs and drive sustainable economic growth in Azerbaijan. This aligns with the consortium’s commitment to support Azerbaijan’s transition to net-zero emissions by 2050.

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