The European Union (EU) continues to move away from Russian energy and to produce new solutions in this field. As a result of the new project announced, a green energy line will be established from the Black Sea to the EU.
At the summit, which was also attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the leaders of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary recently announced that an electric cable that will pass under the Black Sea to carry green Azeri energy from the wind farms planned to be built in the Caspian Sea to Europe. They signed the construction contract. The project will bring green Azeri energy to Europe.
Azeri Energy Will Be Transported to the EU From the Black Sea
The EU, together with national leaders, agreed on a 1,200-kilometer, 1GW power line that will connect Azerbaijan and Georgia, then via the Black Sea to Romania and then to Hungary. The EU Commission also declared that it has allocated 2.3 billion euros for this project. However, considering the size of the project and possible obstacles, it is not expected to enter service within this decade.
Speaking at the summit, Von der Leyen said the plan represents “a new transmission path full of opportunities” after the bloc “decided to turn away from Russian fossil fuels and turn to reliable energy partners”. Von der Leyen said, “The Black Sea power cable can help bring electricity to our neighbors in Moldova and the Western Balkans, and of course to Ukraine,” and that Ukraine will also benefit from this project.
The Black Sea is also seen as a potential main source of future offshore wind energy, with projects discussed from Romania and Turkey. In addition, Azerbaijan can obtain 7 GW of energy from Caspian Sea winds by 2040. In addition to these, Turkey’s offshore wind energy potential is around 75 GW, but an adequate initiative has not started to utilize this potential.
