Baku, August 3, AZERTAC Masdar, one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies, announced that it has achieved financial close for its 230-megawatt (MW) Garadagh Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Plant in Azerbaijan – the nation’s first foreign investment-based independent solar power project, and Masdar’s first project in the country, according to the official website of the company. The project is co-financed by Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Japan International Cooperation Agency.Azerbaijan is targeting to increase the share of renewable sources in its installed power capacity to at least 30 percent by 2030, as the country looks to diversify its economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In March, the Masdar CEO attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Garadagh solar PV plant, which is expected to start commercial operation in 2023. The project will help to generate half a billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to meet the needs of more than 110,000 homes, and will reduce emissions by more than 200,000 tonnes a year, while also creating valuable jobs.Masdar has also signed agreements with Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Energy to develop clean energy projects with a combined capacity of 4 gigawatts (GW) in the first phase, with the right to develop an additional 6 GW in the second phase. Masdar signed two implementation agreements in June – one relating to the development of 1 GW capacity of onshore wind projects and 1 GW of PV projects, the second covering integrated offshore wind and green hydrogen projects with a capacity of 2 GW. Masdar is one of the fastest-growing renewable energy companies in the world and is targeting reaching a capacity of at least 100 GW by 2030, having grown its portfolio 40 percent last year alone. In December, the UAE government announced Abu Dhabi energy champions TAQA, ADNOC, and Mubadala would join forces as shareholders in Masdar, creating a truly global clean energy powerhouse that will be a major force in renewables and green hydrogen.