Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

The INOGATE energy program helps improve the renewable energy environment in Azerbaijan, EU Neighborhood Info Center reported.

Experts from INOGATE visited Azerbaijan at the end of April to assist the Azerbaijan State Agency for Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources.

The EU-funded INOGATE program promotes international energy cooperation between the EU and the Partner Countries of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

The program's activities focus on four key areas: convergence of energy markets on the basis of the EU principles, enhancing energy security, supporting sustainable energy development, and attracting investment in energy projects of common and regional interest.

The work is aimed to improve secondary legislation on renewable energy licensing, and creating a more conducive environment for the development of renewable energy in Azerbaijan.

The team of experts is working closely with the State Agency to analyze the existing legislative framework regarding licensing in the energy sector, including alternative energy.

The assistance is expected to enhance the capacity of the Azerbaijani institutions involved in the formulation and implementation of renewable energy sources, and at the same time facilitate the creation of better conditions for the development of renewable energy projects in the country.

Having the potential to use wind, sun, geothermal, and mixed alternative energy sources, Azerbaijan is currently developing alternative ways of power production.

The share of alternative energy sources in the total energy production in the country, including small hydro-power plants, is two percent at present. Azerbaijan plans to increase the figure to 20 percent by 2020, which presupposes around $8 billion investments.