Author: Nazrin Abdul,
Azernews
In less than a month, all eyes will be on Baku as the Azerbaijani capital prepares to host a major world conference on November 11. Last year, the countries of the world unanimously agreed to host one of the most significant UN events in Azerbaijan – the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change. This decision underscores Azerbaijan’s high reputation on the world stage and underscores its commitment to addressing pressing climate issues.
As an oil and gas country, Azerbaijan is taking significant steps to address global challenges and remains committed to its climate change commitments. It is no coincidence that 2024 was declared the “Year of Solidarity for the Green World” in the republic. In addition, the territories of Azerbaijan liberated from occupation – Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur – were declared “green zones”, and projects related to green energy are being implemented in these territories.
Hosting a world-class conference comes with great responsibility. This is not just a government matter; the government can successfully fulfill its obligations arising from the conference through cooperation with the private sector.
Recently, on October 3, the first foreign partner of COP29 was announced: the prestigious ACWA Power company, which is implementing a green energy project in Azerbaijan.
It is worth noting that ACWA Power, a designer, investor and operator of power plants and water demineralization plants, has been selected as the official energy and water partner of the COP29 event.
The company has confirmed its participation in the Green Zone, committing to sustainable and responsible practices as a thought leader in the energy sector. Her goal is to use this unique platform to build collaborative relationships with peers in the global energy industry, as well as potential partners and climate advocates, and advance the energy transition. This underscores the significance of COP29.
ACWA Power, the world’s largest supplier of demineralized water, is an innovator in the green hydrogen industry and a leader in the global energy transition. Founded in 2004 in Riyadh, ACWA Power has employed more than 4,000 people since its inception. The company currently operates in 13 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and Southeast Asia. Adapting its strategies to align with UN climate goals, ACWA Power implements innovative renewable energy projects around the world to improve energy efficiency, ensure sustainable water management and minimize environmental impact.
Speaking about the new partnership, ACWA Power CEO Marco Arcelli emphasized the need to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy.
COP29 could be a platform for global unity – ARTICLE in Azernews
“We at ACWA Power believe that overcoming this global challenge requires significant changes to our planet’s water and energy supply. We must also accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy by ensuring reliable, competitive and sustainable supplies.”
Marco Arcelli also emphasized the special importance of holding COP29 in Azerbaijan.
“Several years ago, Azerbaijan became a reliable gas supplier to Europe, offering low-carbon, safe and diversified solutions. Today, the country has the potential to serve as a bridge between Central Asia and Europe for new sources of green energy and green molecules. These green energy sources and green molecules are technologies which ACWA Power has achieved at the most competitive prices and with the highest reliability on a global scale.”
The company’s CEO emphasized that, in addition to our desire to share our experience, we are committed to building a sustainable future: “In the future we envision, clean energy will not be just a wish, but the foundation of a better tomorrow!” – he added.
It is important to highlight that ACWA Power is currently developing a 240 MW wind farm project in Azerbaijan in collaboration with Masdar. In 2022, the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ACWA Power from Saudi Arabia to develop cooperation in the field of offshore wind energy. The purpose of this Memorandum is to establish the basic principles of cooperation, assess the investment potential of renewable energy projects in Azerbaijan and create favorable conditions for permanent partnership.
On January 13, 2022, a foundation laying ceremony for the Khizi Absheron wind power plant was held in Azerbaijan, which was attended by President Ilham Aliyev and the Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia, Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman Al Saud.
The Khizi-Absheron wind farm will become the largest power plant in the renewable energy sector of Azerbaijan with a capacity of 240 MW. It is expected to be operational by 2025.
Once completed, the plant will generate approximately one billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, saving approximately 220 million cubic meters of natural gas and preventing more than 400,000 tons of carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere.
This joint project with Saudi Arabia is important for Azerbaijan. The station will improve the country’s energy security, create numerous jobs, save natural gas and mitigate the negative impact on the environment.
It is worth noting that the first COP29 partners were announced in September. These partners include respected companies from Azerbaijan: SOCAR Green, serving as an energy transition partner; Pasha Holding, appointed as strategic impact partner; and Azersun Holding, recognized as a sustainable development partner.
These official COP29 partners will take this opportunity to expand their activities related to global climate policy, prioritize sustainability efforts and support climate action across their core competencies. By collaborating with COP29 in Baku, these companies will demonstrate their important role in improving environmental policies and supporting the global community to achieve the 1.5°C climate target.
In conclusion, the Green Zone at COP29 will be an important hub for private sector organizations, showcasing a wide range of global companies seeking to showcase innovative climate-focused solutions. This dedicated space will foster collaboration and strengthen partnerships through presentations, workshops and networking opportunities, ultimately strengthening collective efforts to address climate challenges and promote sustainable practices. By bringing together key stakeholders, the Green Zone will play an important role in advancing climate initiatives and supporting the global transition to a more sustainable future.
The original article can be found at the link.