The Shams 1 and Western Horizon solar power stations currently being built in Nakhchivan, with a combined capacity of 50 MW, are expected to provide electricity to nearly 40,000 households, Report's local bureau informs, citing Nimet Atalay, head of the company constructing the Shams 1 plant in Nakhchivan.
Atalay noted that work on the 25 MW Shams 1 plant began about 40‑45 days ago. The 10 MW section of the facility has already been installed and is fully ready to generate electricity.
He stated that the main objective is to bring the entire 25 MW plant online after the 15th of next month.
The Shams 1 project is being developed on a 52‑hectare site. Once operational, the plant is expected to produce roughly 57 million kilowatt‑hours of electricity annually, enough to power nearly 19,000 homes.
The project is also projected to cut around 26,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year and save 12 million cubic metres of natural gas.
Meanwhile, topographic surveys for the 25 MW Western Horizon solar plant, another project under construction in Nakhchivan city, have been finalised, and geological studies are in progress. Construction is scheduled to commence by the end of this year.
Upon completion, the Western Horizon plant is projected to generate approximately 61 million kilowatt‑hours of electricity per year and supply around 21,000 households.
In total, the two plants are expected to provide electricity to nearly 40,000 homes.
Currently, 688 hectares in Nakhchivan have been allocated as renewable energy zones for solar power plant development.
Azerbaijan's total installed renewable energy capacity is 2,070 MW, of which 108 MW is located in Nakhchivan. With the commissioning of Shams 1 and Western Horizon, Nakhchivan's renewable capacity is set to rise to 158 MW.
https://report.az/en/energy/nakhchivan-solar-plants-to-supply-electricity-to-40-000-homes