Azerbaijan builds region’s largest battery storage system to boost renewable energy

BAKU, Azerbaijan (MNTV) — Azerbaijan is advancing its renewable energy ambitions with the construction of the region’s largest Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), designed to enhance grid stability and support the integration of new solar and wind power projects. 

According to Azer News, the initiative is being carried out by the state energy company “AzerEnergy.”

According to the company, two large-scale storage systems with a combined capacity of 250 megawatts and 500 megawatt-hours are being built at the 500 kV Absheron substation near Baku and the 220 kV Agdash substation in central Azerbaijan. 

Once completed, they will be the first systems of this scale not only in Azerbaijan but across the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Officials say the BESS projects will help improve frequency stability, reduce outages, manage peak loads, balance power fluctuations during sunset hours, and enable system restoration in case of emergencies. 

They are also expected to strengthen energy independence by ensuring reliable operation both in parallel with and independently from neighboring grids.

Alongside the storage projects, Azerbaijan is implementing a program to add 2 gigawatts of solar and wind power plants to the national grid by 2027. 

A key component of the plan is the construction of the 500/330 kV Navahi Energy Junction, one of the country’s largest substations, which will distribute electricity through high-voltage transmission lines to multiple regions.

AzerEnergy emphasized that digitalization and modernized network management are being prioritized to build a resilient, efficient, and sustainable energy system for the future.