Beijing, April 24 – Azerbaijan and China have taken a significant step forward in renewable energy cooperation, signing a series of high-profile agreements aimed at accelerating green infrastructure projects in the Caspian region. The deals were sealed during Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s official visit to Beijing, where he met with top executives from China’s leading energy firms.
The meeting between President Aliyev and Song Hailiang, chairman of China Energy Engineering Corporation (Energy China), a state-backed company with a dominant position in the global renewable energy market, was at the heart of the talks. Through cooperative partnerships in offshore wind, floating solar, and energy storage, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their bilateral energy connections.
One of Energy China’s flagship projects in Azerbaijan—a 1-gigawatt (GW) offshore wind farm in the Caspian Sea—was a key topic of conversation. The company is also involved in solar power developments in Azerbaijan’s Fuzuli district. Chairman Song proposed deepening collaboration through regional energy corridors and the creation of a joint energy research center, ideas that President Aliyev welcomed as aligning with Azerbaijan’s strategic energy vision.
Coinciding with the visit, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Energy signed six major agreements with Chinese energy firms, paving the way for at least 2.4 GW of new renewable energy capacity. Among the most notable deals is a memorandum with China Datang Overseas Investment and PowerChina Resources to develop a 2-GW offshore wind project in Azerbaijani waters of the Caspian Sea.
Other agreements include:
A 100-MW floating solar power plant on Lake Boyukshor, integrated with a 30-MW battery storage system, to be developed by China Datang in partnership with SOCAR Green.
A 160-MW solar facility by PowerChina and SOCAR Green, with future plans for battery storage integration. Once completed in 2028, the project is expected to generate 332 million kilowatt-hours annually.
A 100-MW solar project in Gobustan, spearheaded by Universal Solar Azerbaijan (a local subsidiary of Universal Energy), anticipated to save 39 million cubic meters of natural gas and cut carbon emissions by 86,000 tonnes per year. Commissioning is slated for 2026.
Additionally, a separate implementation agreement was signed with China Energy Overseas Investment to guide the phased development of the offshore wind farm, encompassing everything from feasibility studies to financing and long-term maintenance.
To support the grid integration of these ambitious projects, the Ministry of Energy also signed a memorandum with the Electric Power Planning & Engineering Institute of China. This collaboration aims to craft a national roadmap for renewable grid optimization through 2028, ensuring both technical efficiency and economic viability.
The wave of agreements underscores Azerbaijan’s drive to diversify its energy portfolio and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. With China already controlling around 50% of its domestic renewables market and operating in 147 countries, Energy China’s expanded footprint in Azerbaijan signals a growing influence in the South Caucasus region.
President Aliyev called the cooperation with Energy China “strategic and a priority,” highlighting Azerbaijan’s ambition to become a central player in future energy corridors stretching from Central Asia to Europe.
The move not only strengthens bilateral relations but also positions Azerbaijan as a pivotal hub in the regional energy transition, reinforcing Beijing’s presence in one of the world’s emerging green energy frontiers.
