Last month Azerbaijan's state-owned alternative-energy company confirmed plans for the construction of hybrid power plants in a number of regions in the country by 2020. The plants will generate energy from a range of sources, including wind, solar and biomass. 

Azerbaijan's authorities have shown an increasing interest in developing alternative energy sources in recent years. Although the government insists this is driven by environmental concerns, it is also eager to reduce the amount of gas consumed by domestic power generation in order to maximise exports. Despite the large
potential, however, the renewables industry in Azerbaijan remains in its infancy.

Akim Badalov, the head of the State Agency of Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources, announced in late October that feasibility studies for 10 power stations are currently under consideration. The locations selected for the plants included Gadabay, in the far west, Qax, in the north, Neftcaala in the
south east, and Naxcivan, an exclave bordering Armenia and Iran. These four power stations will have a combined initial capacity of 15-20 mw, and this is expected to rise to 45-50 mw once the plants reach peak production. 

The construction of the hybrid power plants are part of official plans eventually to increase the share of alternative energy to 20% of total domestic-energy consumption. 

ANN.Az