BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 7. Cooperation in the field of energy transition (including renewables, emissions reductions, energy efficiency, and clean transport) was one of the central topics discussed during the 6th meeting of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation between the governments of Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Trend reports.
The parties discussed the following issues:
- Exchanging best practices on sustainable transportation systems, such as the production, development, and maintenance of electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as collaboration on decarbonizing road transport and transitioning to zero-emission vehicles. Mobile app/information management system development, hydrogen for heating and transportation, fuel cell engineering and manufacturing
- Collaboration in the fields of sustainable environmental development, such as building certification, energy labeling and eco-design criteria, improving energy efficiency services, and conducting energy audits;
- Discussion on partnership in establishing green energy zones in Azerbaijan, including concept design and master planning;
- Investigating collaboration potential with UKEF and the soon-to-be-established Energy Efficiency Fund.
- Bioenergy collaboration, encompassing data collection and methodological development, as well as energy from waste;
- Exchanging information and best practices on decarbonization and low-carbon hydrogen development;
- Investigating prospects to develop Azerbaijan's offshore wind sector, including feasibility studies, design, development, and engineering. policy formulation and environmental consultancy
- Exchanging best practices in the use of "net-metering systems;"
- Organizing research tours to UK renewable energy and decarbonization facilities for the Republic of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Energy, SOCAR, and other relevant stakeholders;
- Investigating potential to use UKEF's global £2 billion direct loan fund, which the UK government has designated for green energy projects.
- Investigating potential areas of collaboration in Azerbaijan for improved waste management methods.
- Sharing the UK's experience and best practices in assessing
the efficiency of hydropower plants, improving the operation of
stations, and analyzing the feasibility of building new hydropower
plants;
- Exchanging of knowledge and best practices on the potential
blending of hydrogen with natural gas (with various blending
options) in gas transmission and its transportation via existing
gas pipelines;
- Establishing cooperation with UK companies and organizations in
the field of integration of renewable energy sources into the grid
and the impact of this integration on the grid;
- Sharing the UK's best practices on carbon capture, utilization,
and storage (CCUS) with the SOCAR State Oil Company of the Republic
of Azerbaijan and exploring opportunities for the use of UKEF in
funding CCUS projects in Azerbaijan;
- Sharing the UK's best practices on preventing oil and gas
leakages and advanced safety practices with SOCAR.
In addition, the sides agreed to explore opportunities for Azerbaijan to use the UK Export Finance's (UKEF) global direct lending mechanism for green energy projects (the UK government in UKEF has allocated 2 billion pounds for these global purposes), as well as to explore cooperation on more efficient waste management.
Azerbaijan is also interested in the UK's experience in the efficient operation of hydroelectric power plants, and analysis of the possibility of building such plants is not ruled out.
The parties recognized the importance of sharing knowledge and best practices on the possible mixing of hydrogen with natural gas (various mixing options) during gas transportation through existing gas pipelines.
An agreement was reached to establish cooperation with British companies and organizations on the integration of renewable energy sources (RES) into the energy system and the impact of such integration on the energy system.
The best practices of the UK in the field of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) are also of interest to Azerbaijan.
The possibility of using UKEF to finance CCUS projects in Azerbaijan can be explored with SOCAR, and relevant UK bodies will share their experience in oil and gas leakage prevention and best safety practices with SOCAR.
At a meeting in Baku on December 7, Azerbaijani and British environmental experts agreed to continue cooperation within the framework of the established Working Group between the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the British Embassy regarding the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Cooperation and Response to Climate Change.
In addition, the parties will continue to explore cooperation between The City UK and the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan on sustainable and green finance.
Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
