Azerbaijan plans to commission four small hydroelectric power plants in the Kalbajar and Lachin districts by 2027, Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov said during the fifth Azerbaijani-Turkish Energy Forum.
The new generating facilities form part of a broader government program to integrate the territories into the national power grid, following Baku’s restoration of control over the area in 2020. Officials have designated the region as a net-zero emissions zone, aiming to supply all local electricity consumption through renewable energy sources. Over recent years, state authorities have built or rehabilitated dozens of small hydropower installations along local mountain rivers.
Baku is also diversifying its clean power assets with solar and wind developments, frequently collaborating with Turkish energy firms. Azerbaijani and Turkish officials are currently discussing plans for solar power projects with a total capacity of up to 1,000 megawatts in the Nakhchivan exclave. Technical teams have also begun wind measurements and site assessments in Kalbajar for a prospective 240-megawatt wind farm.
Shahbazov highlighted the increasing role of grid digitalization and artificial intelligence in managing intermittent renewable generation. He said future competitiveness in the energy sector will depend on efficient data management across power networks as well as gross generating capacity.
