Azerbaijan Sets 2035 Target for Hydrogen Production With EBRD Backing

Azerbaijan is taking some big strides toward a cleaner energy future, unveiling an ambitious plan to kick off large-scale green hydrogen production by 2035. With solid backing from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the country is turning to its natural advantages—like strong wind and sun along the Caspian Sea—to power electrolysis, the key process behind splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable energy.

Building the foundation with solar and wind

Leading the charge is Deputy Minister Orkhan Zeynalov, who’s charting a path that kicks off with a major expansion of solar and wind energy by 2030. That’s the groundwork Azerbaijan needs to lay before hydrogen production can really scale up. The bigger picture? Azerbaijan wants to shift away from its heavy reliance on oil and gas exports and move into the driver’s seat of the sustainable energy transition.

From fossil fuels to green exports

This pivot isn’t just about going green for the sake of it. It’s a strategic play to stay relevant and competitive in a world that’s fast moving toward net-zero goals. With COP29 commitments in the mix and mounting pressure for climate action, Azerbaijan is looking to retool its existing energy infrastructure and tap into the growing hydrogen economy in Europe.

A new energy player on the European stage

If this roadmap holds steady, Azerbaijan could soon become a key supplier in the region’s budding hydrogen infrastructure, exporting clean energy to neighbors and trading partners alike. It’s a bold transition with major implications—not just for Azerbaijan’s economy—but for the way energy reshapes power dynamics across borders. And for a country that’s long been tied to fossil fuel markets, this could be the moment it reinvents itself as a clean energy leader.