Building on an initiative for a green electricity corridor from Azerbaijan through Georgia and Turkey to Bulgaria, their energy ministers signed an agreement on a clean energy strategic partnership. The document also envisages fibre-optic cables to support energy services within the joint endeavor. Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey Alparslan Bayraktar reiterated that the project was “the TANAP of electricity.” In addition, Turkey signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabia on the second phase of a 5 GW renewable energy project.
Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia and Turkey signed the Agreement on a Strategic Partnership in the Field of Clean Energy on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP31 in Antalya, Turkey. The aim is to advance the development of a green energy corridor through the four countries, strengthen regional energy interconnections and diversify transmission routes.
The document facilitates cooperation in the transmission and supply of clean electricity, the establishment of the necessary conditions for secure and uninterrupted transmission, as well as the enhancement of fiber optic communications within the framework of the project, to support the related energy services.
Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov, Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar, Georgia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Mariam Kvrivishvili and Bulgaria’s Minister of Energy Iva Petrova signed the agreement.
The initiative will contribute to exporting electricity generated from Azerbaijan’s renewable energy sources to Turkey and European markets, strengthen the energy security of the partner countries and support Azerbaijan’s transformation into an interregional electricity hub, according to Shahbazov’s ministry.
Power transmission corridor reportedly envisaged at up to 3 GW
The Georgian media reported that the transmission capacity is planned at 2 GW to 3 GW. Electricity transmission system operators (TSOs) from the four countries would launch a joint company for the project, the news outlets learned.
Bayraktar: The project will contribute to Europe’s security of supply
Turkish Minister Bayraktar repeated that the corridor would be “the TANAP of electricity,” referring to the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline, and expressed confidence that the endeavor would contribute to Europe’s security of supply. He recalled that the initiative dates back to 2024 and that the four sides signed a memorandum of understanding last year.
The project rivals the proposed Green Energy Corridor (GECO). It would also run from Azerbaijan and through Georgia, but then the route continues under the Black Sea to Romania and Hungary.
Acwa Power to build wind parks, transmission lines, BESS in Turkey
Also during COP31, officially called the 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Turkey and Saudi Arabia signed an MoU to advance the second phase of their joint renewable energy project. Acwa Power is tasked with building solar power plants in Sivas and Karaman of 2 GW in combined capacity.
In the second phase, the Saudi company would deliver another 3 GW. Bayraktar said the plan involves wind power, high-voltage direct current (HDVC) transmission infrastructure and battery energy storage systems (BESS).
