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Deputy Minister: Caspian wind potential creates opportunity for green hydrogen

Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Energy, Elnur Soltanov

14 May 2025 18:14 (UTC +04:00)

“Green hydrogen is a strategic part of Azerbaijan’s long-term energy vision, especially through offshore wind potential,” said Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Energy, Elnur Soltanov during a panel discussion at an international energy forum, responding to a question on its role in the green transition and the involvement of the private sector, APA reports.

Hydrogen as an energy storage solution

Soltanov acknowledged that while Azerbaijan may not currently be at the global forefront of hydrogen development, the country has begun to seriously explore green hydrogen, especially as a solution for energy storage: “Storage technologies remain expensive, but hydrogen presents a promising alternative. When we generate excess renewable electricity—particularly from offshore wind—it could be used to produce hydrogen, which can later be reconverted to electricity or exported as a molecule.”

Caspian wind potential boosts green hydrogen prospects

He highlighted Azerbaijan’s significant offshore wind potential as a driver for green hydrogen development. “This is how our thinking around hydrogen began—using excess power productively rather than curtailing it,” he said.

Azerbaijan has advantages in blue hydrogen, too

In addition to green hydrogen, blue hydrogen is also seen as a viable path for Azerbaijan. The country possesses abundant natural gas reserves and depleted oil and gas fields that could be used for carbon capture and storage, giving it a comparative advantage in blue hydrogen production. However, Soltanov stressed that Azerbaijan is still trying to prioritize green energy pathways wherever possible.

Changing expectations and evolving strategy

The Deputy Minister noted that global enthusiasm around green hydrogen has somewhat moderated compared to five years ago. “We used to have much more optimistic expectations,” he said. “But still, in every new consultancy we hire, we require assessments on green hydrogen to be included. Given the scale of our renewable potential in the Caspian and the infrastructure we are developing, we believe there’s a strong chance to create a symbiotic energy ecosystem.”

Collaboration is key for the hydrogen economy

Soltanov concluded by underlining the importance of international support and private sector involvement in this transformation: “The green revolution is not only about electrons, as the Minister earlier noted. Molecules matter too—and building a hydrogen economy will require close collaboration between governments, investors, and innovators.”