ACWA Power raises local participation in Azerbaijan wind project to 95%

Saudi Arabia’s energy company ACWA Power has raised the local participation rate in its 240-megawatt wind power project in Azerbaijan to 95%, Selim Güven, the company’s Country Manager for Azerbaijan and Turkey, said on Wednesday.

Güven said the company prioritizes long-term risk allocation, development of local talent, and market integration in its projects.

“In the Azerbaijan project, we only bring in foreign experts where local expertise is unavailable. Our main goal is to develop the capacity of the local market,” he stated.

ACWA Power is currently continuing construction of the 240 MW wind power plant in Azerbaijan. The first 80 MW phase is scheduled to be commissioned in August this year, with the full facility expected to be operational by the end of the year.

The company is also working on a 240 MW wind project in Turkey’s Kızıl region, to be implemented in two phases. The first 80 MW block is expected to be commissioned in August, with subsequent phases coming online in September and October.

Güven noted that ACWA Power supports the green energy transition in the Global South, where it sees significant potential for infrastructure development and economic diversification.

“We were able to secure the necessary capital for these projects thanks to the financial achievements during COP29,” he emphasized.

ACWA Power currently operates in 12 countries, focusing mainly on renewable energy, water equipment, and desalination projects.

N.Tebrizli