Masdar, the UAE’s clean energy powerhouse, and SOCAR Green, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SOCAR dedicated to sustainable projects, have reached financial close for the 445MW Bilasuvar and 315MW Neftchala solar projects in Azerbaijan.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asian infrastructure and Investment Bank (AIIB) are financing the two solar projects, with the total cost expected to be more than USD 600 million.

The agreements were signed on the sidelines of COP29 in Baku. They were witnesses by H.E. Parviz Shahbazov, Minister of Energy for the Republic of Azerbaijan, Abdulaziz AlObaidli, COO of Masdar, Afgan Isayev, Vice President of SOCAR, and Harry Boyd-Carpenter, Managing Director, Climate Strategy and Delivery at EBRD.

The agreements were signed by Abdulla Zayed, Director of Business & Project Development at Masdar, Elmir Musayev, General Director of SOCAR Green, Aida Sitdikova, Director Energy Eurasia, Middle East and Africa at EBRD, James Lok, Lead Investment Officer, Project and Corporate Finance Clients Department, Global at AIIB, and Mayank Choudhary, Director, Private Sector Operations Department at ADB.

Masdar and SOCAR Green broke ground on the Bilasuvar and Neftchala solar parks during a ceremony at Baku Energy Week in June 2024. Construction on the projects is due to be completed by the first quarter of 2027.

Masdar is dedicated to supporting Azerbaijan’s energy transition. It has signed agreements to develop onshore wind and solar projects and integrated offshore wind and green hydrogen projects with a total combined capacity of 10GW. Its first project in Azerbaijan, the 230MW Garadagh solar plant, was inaugurated in October last year.

Since its establishment in 2006, Masdar has been a key enabler of the UAE’s vision as a global leader in sustainability and climate action. The company has developed and partnered in projects in over 40 countries, with a mandate to increase its renewable energy portfolio capacity to 100GW by 2030 and to become a leading producer of green hydrogen by the same year.

Established in 2024, SOCAR Green is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SOCAR, a global energy company headquartered in Azerbaijan. Positioned at the forefront of the nation's transition to renewable energy, SOCAR Green drives the implementation of clean energy initiatives, including large-scale solar, wind, and green hydrogen projects. Through strategic partnerships with international leaders in renewable energy, SOCAR Green supports Azerbaijan’s commitment to achieving its national climate targets and contributing to global sustainability goals.