Baku: The Baku Climate Action Week 2026 (BCAW 2026) included an insightful panel session titled ‘Cross-border Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) for Regional Connectivity.’ This session provided a platform for diverse stakeholders to delve into the role of Renewable Energy Certificates and Guarantees of Origin in fostering transparent and reliable trade of renewable electricity across regions including the South Caucasus, Black Sea, and Central Asia.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the session was moderated by Ashraf Shikhaliyev, Head of the International Cooperation Department of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Energy. The panel brought together policymakers, experts from international organizations, and development finance institutions to discuss the nuances of certification and tracking requirements for green energy corridors. They also explored the interoperability and mutual recognition of certification schemes between the EU Guarantees of Origin system and regional REC markets, alongside the necessary institutional, regulatory, and digital frameworks.
Prominent keynote speakers included Orkhan Zeynalov, Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Energy; Rana Humbatova, Deputy Director of the Azerbaijan Renewable Energy Agency; Claire Marion Nicolas, Senior Energy Economist at ESMAP of the World Bank; Sebastian Salter, Director of the Action Agenda Engagement at DCCEEW of the Australian Government; Javahir Jafarli, Manager for Climate Change and Sustainability at Deloitte and Touche LLAC; and Shihab Elborai, Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The discussion emphasized building trust in cross-border renewable electricity trade through RECs and GOs; harmonizing regulatory policies to enable cross-border REC trading; and mobilizing investment by creating market demand through renewable energy certification mechanisms.