Masdar’s Garadagh Solar Plant Sparks Inspiration and Innovation in Azerbaijan

For Rajab Huseynli and his farming family in the Gobustan area of Azerbaijan, “Energy is everything.” The Garadagh solar PV plant, developed by Masdar in partnership with the Republic of Azerbaijan, sparked a vision in Huseynli to contribute to the global renewable energy transition. Motivated by the project, Huseynli designed and built a wind generator to power his family’s farm, marking the beginning of his journey in renewable energy innovation.

As the Garadagh plant, the largest solar PV facility in the Caspian Sea region, began operations near his home, Huseynli’s curiosity and commitment to renewable energy grew. He pursued an engineering education, focusing on renewable technologies, and was later honored with a prize from the President of Azerbaijan for his work in robotics. “Masdar showed me that I can be a power for good and a power to change,” Huseynli said.

The 230-megawatt Garadagh solar plant currently powers 110,000 homes in Azerbaijan and helps reduce carbon emissions by 200,000 tons annually. Looking ahead, Masdar and the Azerbaijani government have ambitious plans to expand the nation’s clean energy capacity by adding 10 gigawatts to the national grid. Reflecting on the impact of these developments, Huseynli remarked, “Masdar has given us a very special thing—hope for the future.”