Azerbaijan commissions solar power plant on Boyukshor lake

BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 30. A pilot floating solar power plant with a capacity of 100 kW has been officially commissioned on Boyukshor Lake in Baku, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Energy Ministry.

The project is part of the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) regional initiative “Floating Solar Energy Development,” covering Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Afghanistan. It is titled “Knowledge Sharing and Technical Assistance for the Development of Floating Solar Panel System.”

Implemented by the Spanish Gamma Solutions company with an ADB grant, the project resulted in three main panel units that operate on the solar panel principle, where a DC photovoltaic generator converts the sun's energy into electricity.

Speaking at the ceremony today, Javid Abdullayev, Director of the Azerbaijan Renewable Energy Agency under the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan, noted that the facility aligns with Azerbaijan's strategy on decarbonization and combating climate change.

Abdullayev noted that due to the commissioning of the Garadagh Solar Power Plant (a Masdar project) in the fall of 2023, electricity generation at the plant in the country increased eightfold by July 2024.

"The new solar power plant on Boyukshor Lake will generate more than 160 thousand kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. This is the first project of its kind in Azerbaijan, with 100 kW of AC power, 95 kW of which comes from the floating part of the station and 5 kW from the land part," he emphasized.

Candice McDeigan, Head of ADB's Resident Mission in Azerbaijan, mentioned that "the launch of this innovative project on the eve of COP29 is of great importance."

"This project becomes another source of green energy, optimizes the joint use of water and solar resources, and prevents carbon dioxide emissions," said the ADB representative.

It should be noted that the share of renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan's total energy balance, including hydropower, is currently 15 percent.

By 2030, Azerbaijan plans to increase the share of renewable energy in the country's energy capacity to 34 percent.