President Ilham Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan participated in the opening of the "Absheron" Battery Energy Storage Center of "AzerEnergy" Open Joint Stock Company (OJSC) on March 25.
Baba Rzayev, Chairman of the Board of "AzerEnergy" OJSC, informed the head of state about the "Absheron" Battery Energy Storage Center.
It should be noted that Azerbaijan is entering a new stage of development in the energy sector. Based on the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev, "AzerEnergy" OJSC has created large energy storage centers with a total capacity of 250 MW and an energy capacity of 500 MWh at two main substations – the 500 kV "Absheron" and the 220 kV "Agdash" substations – entirely with domestic financial resources. The construction of centers of this scale is the first not only in Azerbaijan but also in the CIS region as a whole.
Within the project framework, 50 accumulator battery and 13 inverter containers have been installed at the "Absheron" Battery Energy Storage Center. Research conducted by international consulting companies (TETRA Tech of the USA and EPRA of Turkey) has shown the necessity of creating such battery systems in Azerbaijan for the secure connection of renewable energy sources with a capacity of approximately 1850 MW to the energy system.
The Battery Energy Storage Center is distinguished by its flexibility. They can be fully charged or discharged within 2 hours. Surplus energy, including energy generated during daylight hours, is stored here and automatically supplied to the grid during peak hours – when demand for energy increases. In short, these systems collect and store energy, and direct it for use when needed.
The implementation of such a Center offers numerous advantages to the energy network. For instance, the SCADA system provides real-time monitoring of the energy system, ensuring grid stability, including frequency and voltage maintenance, automatic regulation of sudden energy shortages, reduced impact of failures, and increased system reliability. Furthermore, electricity demand during peak hours is met more easily, the impact of interruptions in solar and wind energy is reduced, and the energy system can be restored from zero. Simultaneously, load changes are managed more smoothly during sunset hours.
In essence, the establishment of the Battery Energy Storage Center makes Azerbaijan's energy system more modern, flexible, and resilient. Especially in a period of increasing solar and wind energy, such storage systems are considered a core component of the future energy model.
A special center has been created at the "Absheron" Battery Energy Storage Center to manage these systems.
A modern administrative building has been constructed on the territory, and extensive landscaping and greening work has been carried out.
The head of state was also informed about the integration of renewable energy sources into the energy system and the digital transformation of the energy system.
It was stated that large-scale renewable energy sources will be integrated into the energy system in the near future, and by 2028, more than 2100 MW of green energy will be on the grid.
Considering all of this, the main phase of the work within the "AZURE" project, implemented to ensure the sustainable and secure integration of 2 GW of renewable energy sources being built in Azerbaijan into the energy system, to increase the share of green energy in the energy supply of Baku, including the Alat Free Economic Zone, and to transform the 500/330 kV "Nəvahi Green Energy" junction into one of the main hub substations by directly connecting it to the country's energy system, has now been completed.
Within the project framework, 500 kV transmission lines have been laid at a distance of 65 kilometers from the "Absheron" substation to the "Nəvahi" substation, and 330 kV transmission lines have been laid at a total distance of 181 kilometers from the "Bankə" and "Biləsuvar" Solar Power Plants. In the future, the construction of 500 kV transmission lines from Mingachevir at a distance of 235 kilometers and 330 kV transmission lines from Qobu, Alat, and Qobustan at a total distance of 103 kilometers to the "Nəvahi" substation is planned.
Over the past 7 years, 4700 kilometers of fiber-optic cable infrastructure have been created, and a central SCADA system covering more than 550 energy facilities has been established.
Online diagnostic technologies (AGC, WAMS/WACS), artificial intelligence-based fault prediction and diagnostic systems are being implemented in the energy system. A high-precision forecasting system for solar and wind power plants is being developed.
A Digital Management Department has been established within the internal structure of "AzerEnergy" OJSC for the fully automated management of the energy system.
Electricity consumption is projected to increase by approximately 17 percent by 2032. By that time, 8 GW of RES capacities will be created.
The export of green energy to European markets through the Black Sea cable, regional energy corridors, and other projects is a primary goal. The Black Sea cable will have the capacity to transmit 1300 MW of green energy.
The head of state pressed the button marking the opening of the "Absheron" Battery Energy Storage Center.