WindEurope and the Azerbaijan Renewable Energy Agency have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to advance the deployment of onshore and offshore wind energy in Azerbaijan and the wider Caspian Sea area.
Through this collaboration the parties aim to harness the vast onshore and offshore wind potential in the region, contributing to the global objective of tripling renewable capacity by 2030.
The Azerbaijan government wants renewables to be 30% of the country’s total installed electricity capacity by 2030.
By signing the memorandum WindEurope and the Azerbaijan Renewable Energy Agency pledge to cooperate in a number of different areas including establishing competition criteria.
This includes the use of qualitative criteria that do not just consider price but also the value added in areas such as biodiversity protection, cybersecurity and job creation.
In addition, the terms of the MoU recognise that maritime spatial planning and grid development are crucial for offshore wind development and that simplifying the permitting processes will ensure an efficient buildout of new wind farms.
WindEurope chief executive Giles Dickson said: “WindEurope are honoured to sign this MoU with Azerbaijan to help them build out their wind, both onshore and offshore in the Caspian. It is great they want to build so much, and that they want to export the energy to Europe through the planned Black Sea cable. It is a win-win collaboration.”