WindEurope will support Azerbaijan as it looks to expand its wind energy potential, Phil Cole, Director of Industrial Affairs at WindEurope, Belgium, told Trend.

"Following the signing of the memorandum of understanding between WindEurope and the Azerbaijan Renewable Energy Agency in March 2024, we will support Azerbaijan as it looks to expand its wind energy potential through the sharing of best practice and pitfalls to avoid, advising on methods of onshore and offshore wind deployment and its experience of the European power purchase agreement market that the interconnector will rely on," he said.

Cole pointed out that in addition, WindEurope will also continue to connect policymakers, regulators and potential electricity off-takers in Azerbaijan and the EU to progress the project.

"Azerbaijan offers significant potential for the development of both onshore and offshore wind energy and is an attractive country for experienced wind farm developers considering its abundant wind resources and consistent wind speeds. As well as increasing its own energy transition, Azerbaijan's proximity to other major countries also offers opportunities to decarbonise industry through the electrification of their processes. Azerbaijan is also in an excellent position to be able to learn from the mistakes that mature wind energy markets have made over the years and so will be able to avoid these in order to develop their significant wind resources at pace," added the director.

He noted that WindEurope's strategic priorities for supporting wind energy development in the Caspian region focus on leveraging the region's abundant wind and wider renewable energy potential while also fostering economic, technological and environmental benefits.

"Azerbaijan plays a pivotal role in this vision. The country has had the foresight to take advantage of its wind energy resources, both for its own use and also as an export opportunity at a time when some countries are struggling to meet their 2030 renewable energy targets," said Cole.

In March 2024, Azerbaijan Renewable Energy Agency (AREA) under the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan and WindEurope inked a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of wind energy.

The paper addresses wind energy projects, the exchange of information and best practices in the development of electricity supply interconnectors, and collaboration on the Caspian Sea-Black Sea-Europe green energy corridor.