Masdar Plans 350MW Azerbaijan Solar Expansion
Masdar Plans 350MW Azerbaijan Solar Expansion
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Key Points
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The existing Garadagh Solar PV project, inaugurated in 2023, generates approximately 500 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually—enough to supply more than 110,000 homes—and was Azerbaijan’s first foreign-investment-based independent utility-scale solar project.
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The proposed 100MW round-the-clock renewable-energy project is being considered for Nakhchivan and would draw on Masdar’s Abu Dhabi project, which combines 5.2GW of solar capacity with a 19GWh battery system to provide up to 1GW of baseload renewable power 24 hours a day.
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The Neftchala Solar PV project is located in southeastern Azerbaijan’s Neftchala district and is expected to generate more than 686 million kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity annually.
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The Neftchala project’s financing is being provided by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Asian Development Bank; the parties did not disclose the financial terms.
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Masdar said its Garadagh project has created new jobs for the local community, while the plant is located about nine kilometers northwest of Azerbaijan’s Alat settlement.
Masdar, the Abu Dhabi renewable-energy giant, is massively expanding its solar footprint in Azerbaijan. The company signed agreements to add at least 350 megawatts to its existing Garadagh Solar PV project and build up to 200 megawatt-hours of battery storage, PV Tech reported. Masdar also reached financial close on a separate 315-megawatt solar plant expected to power 140,000 homes.
The deals were signed with Azerbaijan Green Energy Company and SOCAR Green, and witnessed by President Ilham Aliyev and Abu Dhabi Deputy Ruler Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Together, the projects show Masdar's bet that Azerbaijan will become a major renewable-energy hub in the Caucasus.
Garadagh's Massive Growth From 230MW to 580MW+
Masdar's existing Garadagh Solar PV project, which opened in 2023, already generates about 500 million kilowatt-hours yearly—enough power for 110,000 homes, PV Tech reported. The planned 350-megawatt expansion would more than double the site's output. It will remain Azerbaijan's largest foreign-backed solar farm.
The 200-megawatt-hour battery system will let the plant store excess power and release it when the sun isn't shining. Energy Storage News reported that Masdar called this a key step toward making renewable energy reliable year-round in the country.
A 24-Hour Renewable-Power Plant Coming to Nakhchivan
Masdar is studying a 100-megawatt round-the-clock renewable-energy project for the Nakhchivan region. This plant would combine solar generation with massive battery storage to provide reliable power day and night. Energy Storage News noted it would copy Masdar's Abu Dhabi model.
The Abu Dhabi reference plant runs 5.2 gigawatts of solar paired with 19 gigawatt-hours of batteries. That system delivers up to 1 gigawatt of baseload power around the clock. If Nakhchivan moves forward, it would be one of the first such projects in the South Caucasus.
Neftchala Solar Project Reaches Financial Closing
Masdar and SOCAR Green completed financing for the 315-megawatt Neftchala Solar PV project in southeastern Azerbaijan. Three international development banks backed the deal: the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Asian Development Bank.
The plant will generate over 686 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually and cut carbon emissions by roughly 280,000 tonnes per year, PV Tech reported. Construction is expected to begin soon, with power delivery starting within the next two to three years.
Azerbaijan's Pivot Toward Renewable Energy Abroad
These deals mark a major shift for Azerbaijan, a nation long dependent on oil and gas exports. Utilities Middle East reported that the country is now attracting billions in renewable investment from major players like Masdar. The projects will create local jobs and establish manufacturing hubs.
With 1-billion-plus kilowatt-hours of solar capacity in the works, Azerbaijan is positioning itself as a clean-energy exporter to Europe and the wider region. The deals show that even traditional energy nations can transition rapidly when backed by international capital and expertise.
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