Alternative energy may diverse energy market in Azerbaijan
By Nigar Orujova
Azerbaijan, a country rich of hydrocarbons, can make benefit of its other natural resources i.e. alternative energy on the backdrop of the world oil-price crisis.
The international network of scientists and parliamentarians – Energy Watch Group – offers Azerbaijan to consider lowering domestic consumption of oil and gas through the development of solar, wind and biogas energy.
Azerbaijan is reach of alternative energy especially solar, wind and thermal energies.
President of Energy Watch Group established in 2006, Hans Josef Fell told Trend on November 25 that many consumers are switching to alternative energy sources, particularly due to changes in global climate.
Fell, who is also a former deputy of the German Bundestag, added that the world witnesses an upward trend of divestment from the traditional power industry in favor of alternative energy.
“Azerbaijan can also invest revenues from hydrocarbon exports to active development of the alternative energy,” he noted.
Last year, investment in alternative energy development in Azerbaijan exceeded 63 million manats, of which almost 35 million was invested in the development of solar energy, as most of the country’s potential in this area is accounted for by solar energy, with an estimated at 5,000 megawatts.
In total, about 800 million manats has been invested in this sector in Azerbaijan since 2000.
In addition, wind power accounts for 4,500 megawatts energy potential, 1,500 megawatts for biomass, and 800 megawatts for geothermal energy. The remaining 350 megawatts is the potential for small hydroelectric power plants.
Within five years, Azerbaijan plans to build up to 100 facilities for alternative energy.
Currently, the share of alternative energy sources in Azerbaijan is less than 1 percent, and is for by small hydroelectric power plants. This share is planned to increase to 20 percent of the total volume of energy consumption in Azerbaijan by 2020, which requires 7 billion manats of investment.
The country also plans to cooperate in this area with neighboring Georgia and Turkey, as well as Germany.
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Nigar Orujova is AzerNews’s staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @o_nigar
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