BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6.
It’s important to elevate the partnership between Germany and
Azerbaijan to a new stage and expand cooperation in the field of
renewable energy, Senior Vice President and Head of Europe at
Siemens Energy, Frederik Doye, said at the German-Azerbaijani
Connectivity Conference in Baku on Tuesday, Trend's correspondent
reports from the event.


He noted that currently, energy cooperation between Germany and
Azerbaijan is primarily focused on fuel exports.


"The time has come to elevate the partnership between Germany
and Azerbaijan to a new level. At present, this cooperation centers
largely on fuel exports to Germany, an undeniably important factor.
However, we are now entering the era of electricity. The importance
of electric power is growing day by day, and renewable energy
sources are beginning to play a decisive role in this context,"
Doye pointed out.


According to him, there is immense potential for offshore and
onshore wind and solar energy in Azerbaijan and the region as a
whole.


"There is great potential for wind and solar energy, both
offshore and onshore, not only in Azerbaijan but across the entire
region. This potential has not yet been fully realized and could
serve as a crucial step toward bringing our countries even closer
together," he stated.


Doye emphasized that the integration of energy grids is a
complex process and highlighted the particular importance of
digitalization in this regard.


"The integration of cross-border networks, and even the
complexity of systems within a country like Germany, demands
serious attention. For instance, there are four main transmission
system operators managing the electricity grid in Germany. The fact
that each has different grid codes makes the process quite
complex," the Siemens Energy official noted.


He stated that the average age of electricity grids in Europe is
approximately 50 years, and these systems have lacked sufficient
investment over a long period.


"In the past, the system was simpler: there was a single large
power plant, and energy was transmitted from there to consumers.
Now, however, the system is highly complex. There are parties that
both generate and consume energy, and power flows in two
directions. Consequently, grids need to become more digital and
capable of handling heavier loads," Doye said.







According to him, building digital electricity grids from
scratch based on modern standards could offer a significant
advantage in the region.


Doye also pointed out that the involvement of multiple countries
in the implementation of 'green corridor' projects adds further
complexity to the process.


"When speaking of a 'green corridor,' we envision the
participation of multiple countries, which in itself makes the
process more complex. For instance, reaching an agreement between
Denmark and Germany on integrating offshore wind energy into the
German power grid took years," he noted.


He added that similar discussions are currently underway between
France and Spain.


"While connecting countries makes sense from an economic
perspective, the interests of the parties involved may not always
align," Doye emphasized.


The Siemens Energy official noted the importance of close
cooperation among governments, industry representatives, banks,
financial institutions, and investors to realize such large-scale
infrastructure projects.


"To turn such large-scale infrastructure projects into reality,
governments, industry representatives, banks, financial
institutions, and investors must work in close cooperation. I am
confident that this collaboration will succeed and yield the
expected results," he concluded.