Azerbaijan's first energy storage facility to be integrated into grid in 2027

Azerbaijan is building a 250-megawatt energy storage system, which will be integrated into the grid by 2027, Elchin Targuluyev, a solar and wind energy specialist at SOCAR Green, said at the Azerbaijan & Central Asia Green Energy Week 2025, Report informs.

Targuluyev recalled that Azerbaijan plans to commission up to two gigawatts of generating capacity by 2027, primarily in solar and wind energy.

"I would call the first stage of renewable energy development a pilot phase, as the technologies were new to Azerbaijan. We learned from our mistakes while implementing projects and laid the foundation for the regulatory framework. Azerbaijan is now moving to the second stage, a more mature stage, which implies increased oversight by renewable energy project developers. Battery-based energy storage systems will be one such solution," Targuluyev said.

He added that in the first phase, "the state has assumed responsibility for balancing all renewable energy projects, so Azerbaijan is building a 250 MW energy storage system, which will be integrated into the grid in 2027."

"Starting with the second phase, the implementation of energy storage systems is entrusted to investors, as variable sources-solar and wind-are unstable and affect grid stability. They require flexibility, but the grid itself has its limits. Therefore, batteries are needed to smooth out these fluctuations. The second phase (until 2030–2032) is primarily dedicated to technology maturity: integrating renewable energy sources with storage systems into the power grid and, in part, exporting electricity to neighboring countries. After 2032, we can talk about the long-term phase-the phase of becoming an energy exporter. This is Azerbaijan's ultimate goal: to become an exporter of green energy, just as it previously became an exporter of oil and gas," Targulayev added.

According to him, at this stage, projects will be implemented on a gigawatt scale, not a megawatt scale.

"As far as I know, the Ministry of Energy is already working with consultants to develop an implementation structure, source allocation, and a schedule for the phased export of up to 4 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2040. Such a quantity of green energy will require extremely careful planning, as renewable energy sources are unstable and require a well-thought-out implementation schedule to ensure smooth integration and project success," the specialist stated.