Azerbaijan launches largest energy storage center in CIS: Absheron and technological breakthrough

On March 25, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of the Absheron Battery-based Energy Storage Center of the AzerEnergy NGO.

Large centers with a total capacity of 250 MW and an energy storage capacity of 500 MWH have been established on the territory of the 500-kilovolt Absheron substation and the 220-kilovolt Agdash substation. These are the largest centers of battery energy storage systems in the CIS (BESS - Battery Energy Storage Systems). As part of the project, 50 rechargeable batteries and 13 container inverters have been installed on the territory of the Absheron center. A study conducted by international consulting companies (American TETRA Tech and Turkish EPRA) has shown the need to create similar battery systems in Azerbaijan to safely connect to the renewable energy system with a capacity of almost 1,850 MW.

The equipment was ordered from the Great Power factory in China.

The world has long been concerned about energy security. And recent events in the Middle East and the approaching next energy crisis have made the problem particularly acute. The more risks there are, the more energy needs there are. It's not just about fossil fuels, but also about electricity generated from renewable sources. Due to the disruption of supply chains and, in general, the lack of confidence in the complete stabilization of the situation in the conflict zone, Azerbaijan is becoming more and more in demand as an alternative supplier. But the country itself needs, first of all, to think about its own energy security. And battery power storage systems, as global experience shows, are just what you need.

In January, at the official opening ceremony of the Khizi-Absheron wind farm, President Ilham Aliyev said: "As for future plans, given that our renewable energy potential will increase significantly, we certainly need to create an infrastructure for its storage. For this purpose, for the first time in history, an energy storage system based on rechargeable batteries is being created in our country. The capacity of the first project is 250 MW. AzerEnergy implements it at its own expense. However, our growing potential will require an even greater increase in the number of such battery-based energy storage systems, and I invite foreign investors to join this work."

The implementation of the BESS project in Azerbaijan became known in September last year. It was reported that the creation of energy storage systems based on rechargeable batteries is of great importance for increasing the stability of the energy system, stabilizing the frequency, reducing interruptions in the operation of renewable energy sources, compensating for the shortage of active power, covering peak loads, smoothing the load schedule in the hours after sunset, as well as restoring the power system from scratch in emergency situations. The implementation of these systems should strengthen Azerbaijan's energy independence, as well as ensure reliable operation of the energy system both in synchronous mode with the energy systems of neighboring countries and in isolated mode.

Engel Tastan, regional manager of the Chinese company GoodWe in Turkiye and Central Asia, said at the event "Green Energy Week 2025: Azerbaijan and Central Asia", held in Baku last September, that Azerbaijan is considered as one of the promising markets for energy storage systems based on BESS. According to him, one of the important factors positively influencing the decision of investors is the high level of production and stable operation of the network. In this regard, Azerbaijan has significant potential for the development of battery energy storage systems. After the launch and stabilization of solar and wind energy projects, it will be possible to use BESS to balance the grid and other market needs, Tastan noted.

One of the advantages of BESS is its high charging speed. The batteries here can be charged in two hours. It is safe to say that such centers will make Azerbaijan's energy system more stable. These energy storage and storage systems create a safety cushion and save you from energy shortages. BESS stores energy when it is cheaper or there is a lot of it, for example, during the daytime from solar panels. As you know, the sun and wind are sources that depend on natural factors, and therefore the generation is not constant. The systems make it possible to smooth out these problems and create opportunities for uninterrupted energy supply to the population, industrial enterprises and transport.

It is no coincidence that energy storage and storage systems are becoming increasingly popular in the world.

In December 2025, one of the world's largest energy storage systems, the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub, was launched in Australia. This facility has a storage capacity of 1.6 GWh and a capacity of 600 MW. This is enough to provide electricity to up to 200,000 homes during the evening peak consumption hours.

In 2025, large energy storage systems were commissioned in Bulgaria and Saudi Arabia. The Arabian 500 MW and 2,000 MWh project has become the world's largest single-phase energy storage center. However, it did not last long in this status, as BESS of similar capacity was launched in China. And yet the Saudis are not giving up. In February 2025, Saudi Electricity Company (SA) signed a contract with China's BYD Energy Storage for the supply of energy storage systems. The Chinese company will provide equipment with a total capacity of 12.5 GWh for the implementation of five projects to create energy storage systems in Saudi Arabia. This agreement will help CA achieve the goal of obtaining half of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. This system will be the largest of its kind in the world and will quadruple the project of a hybrid energy complex with an installed generation capacity of about 3,287 GWh, combining solar panels and energy storage systems, launched in California in 2024.

The CESS facilities being created in Azerbaijan will exceed the energy volumes stored in the European Union in terms of total capacity. In terms of storage capacity, Absheron is not far behind Europe's largest BESS, which was built in the UK and has impressive parameters of 300 MW/600 MWh.

Azerbaijan has plenty of renewable energy sources. As you know, Azerbaijan receives more sunlight during the year than anyone else. By 2027, it is planned to implement a program in Azerbaijan aimed at integrating solar and wind power plants with a total capacity of more than 2 GW into the network. As part of the program, one of the largest energy hubs in the country is being built - the Navai substation (500/330 kV), which will serve as the main distribution center. High-voltage 500 and 330 kV power transmission lines will be laid from it to various regions of the country.

At the launch ceremony of the Absheron Energy storage center, the head of state was informed about the completion of the main stage of work within the framework of the AZURE project. The project is being implemented with the aim of sustainable and secure integration into the 2 GW renewable energy energy system being created in Azerbaijan, increasing the share of green energy in the energy supply of Baku, including the Alat Free Economic Zone, and direct full connection of the 500/330 kilovolt Navai Green Energy node to the country's energy system.

Today, the energy trends on the planet are changing again. The defaming of fossil fuels has stopped amid the approaching crisis. It became clear that there would be no rapid transition to renewable energy and that this task should be achieved gradually. Before giving up the most reliable energy sources, you need to create a safety cushion. The Absheron Energy Storage Center, opened by the President, serves just this purpose. This is our country's contribution to the fight against climate change.