President Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of the "Absheron" Battery Energy Storage Center

On March 25, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev participated in the opening of the "Absheron" Battery Energy Storage Center of the "Azerenergy" Open Joint Stock Company (OJSC).

As reported by AZERTAJ, Chairman of the Board of "Azerenergy" OJSC Baba Rzayev 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. By order of President Ilham Aliyev, "Azerenergy" OJSC, entirely through internal financial resources, has established large energy storage centers on the territory of two main substations — the 500-kilovolt "Absheron" substation and the 220-kilovolt "Agdash" substation — with a total capacity of 250 MW and energy storage capacity of 500 MW/h. Centers of this scale have been created for the first time not only in Azerbaijan but also in the CIS region as a whole.

As part of the project, 50 battery units and 13 inverter containers have been installed on the territory of the "Absheron" Battery Energy Storage Center. A study conducted by international consulting companies (American TETRA Tech and Turkish EPRA) demonstrated the need to create such battery systems in Azerbaijan for the safe integration of approximately 1,850 MW of renewable energy sources into the energy system.

The Battery Energy Storage Center is distinguished by its high speed. Batteries can be fully charged or discharged within two hours. Energy, including that generated during sunny hours, is accumulated here and during peak hours — when the demand for electricity increases — it is automatically fed into the grid. Thus, these systems accumulate and store energy and direct it for use when needed.

The application of such a center provides numerous advantages for the energy grid. For example, using the SCADA system, real-time monitoring of the energy system is carried out, grid stability is maintained, including frequency and voltage, sudden energy shortages are automatically regulated, the impact of accidents is reduced, and the system becomes more reliable. In addition, electricity demand during peak hours is met more efficiently, the impact of interruptions in solar and wind energy generation is reduced, and it becomes possible to restore the energy system from scratch. At the same time, load changes during sunset hours are managed much more easily.

Thus, the creation of the Battery Energy Storage Center makes Azerbaijan's energy system more modern, flexible, and resilient. Especially during the period of increasing solar and wind energy generation, such storage systems are considered a key part of the future energy model.

A special center for managing these systems has been created at the "Absheron" Battery Energy Storage Center.

A modern administrative building has been constructed on the territory, and extensive landscaping and greening works have 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 reported that in the near future, large volumes of renewable energy sources will be integrated into the energy system, and by 2028, more than 2,100 MW of green energy will already be in the grid.

Taking all this into account, the main stage of work has already been completed within the framework of the AZURE project, implemented for the sustainable and safe integration of 2 GW of renewable energy sources into the energy system being created in Azerbaijan, increasing the share of green energy in the power supply of Baku, including the Alat Free Economic Zone, and the direct full connection of the 500/330-kilovolt "Navai Green Energy" hub to the country's energy system, transforming it into one of the main hub substations.

As part of the project, a 500-kilovolt power transmission line with a length of 65 km has been laid from the "Absheron" substation to the "Navai" substation, and a 330-kilovolt power transmission line with a total length of 181 km has been laid from the "Banka" and "Bilasuvar" solar power plants. In the future, it is planned to lay a 500-kilovolt power transmission line with a length of 235 km from Mingachevir to the "Navai" substation, and a 330-kilovolt power transmission line with a total length of 103 km from Guba, Alat, and Gobustan.

Over the past 7 years, a fiber-optic cable infrastructure with a length of 4,700 km and a central SCADA system covering more than 550 energy facilities have been created.

Online diagnostic technologies (AGC, WAMS/WACS), accident forecasting and artificial intelligence-based diagnostic systems are being applied in the energy system. A high-precision forecasting system is being created for solar and wind power plants.

In order to fully automate the management of the energy system, a Digital Management Department has been established within the internal structure of "Azerenergy" OJSC.

It is projected that electricity consumption will increase by approximately 17 percent by 2032. During this period, renewable energy capacities of 8 GW will be created.

The main goal is to export green energy to European markets through the Black Sea cable, regional energy corridors, and other projects. The capacity of the Black Sea cable will be 1,300 MW of green energy.

The head of state pressed the button symbolizing the opening of the "Absheron" Battery Energy Storage Center.

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