Dubaiuncovered

Masdar, a state-run renewable energy producer, has inaugurated the Garadagh Solar Park in Azerbaijan, a large-scale solar PV project that marks Masdar’s first venture in the country. The 230 megawatt solar park is set to generate half a billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to power over 110,000 homes. Maryam Al Mazrouei, Masdar’s senior manager for development in the region, expressed excitement about the project, commenting that it will supply domestic power in Azerbaijan for the next two decades.

In addition to the Garadagh project, Masdar has projects and plans for facilities in various regions, including the Caspian and Central Asia areas like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. The company has ambitious goals, aiming to double its capacity this year and achieve a gross capacity of 100 gigawatts by 2030.

The UAE, where Masdar is based, has been proactive in its commitment to combat climate change. As the first Gulf oil producer to declare a target of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050, the UAE is preparing to host the United Nations’ COP28 climate summit. Masdar Chairman Sultan Al Jaber has been named the President of COP28, although his dual role as the CEO of oil producer ADNOC has sparked criticism.

Interestingly, ADNOC is expanding its presence in Azerbaijan as well. In August, the company agreed to purchase a 30 percent equity stake in the Absheron natural gas field in the Caspian Sea, marking its first major international acquisition of upstream hydrocarbon assets.

Overall, Masdar’s foray into Azerbaijan’s solar sector is an important step towards renewable energy development in the country. With the UAE’s and Masdar’s commitment to sustainability, it is evident that the transition to clean energy is a global priority.