Armenia generated a total of 7.32 TWh of electricity in 2021, about evenly divided between low-carbon and fossil technologies. A little over half of the electricity came from low carbon sources, totaling 4.14 TWh, while fossil energies, predominantly gas, comprised almost the remaining half, reaching up to 3.18 TWh. Hydropower was a significant contributor to the low-carbon electricity at 2.2 TWh, with nuclear trailing behind at 1.85 TWh. However, the total power consumption per capita in Armenia still appears to be significantly below the global average of 410 watts per person, indicating potential power shortages that could inhibit the country's developmental agenda. The lower power generation also limits electrification and utilization of modern technologies, impacting the overall quality of life.
Given the data, it would be beneficial for Armenia to focus on expanding its existing low-carbon technologies like nuclear power, which already contributes a significant amount to the country's electricity generation. Other countries have demonstrated the potential of nuclear energy to effectively meet high power demands without contributing to carbon emissions. For instance, nuclear power in the United States and France generates a whopping 775 TWh and 319 TWh respectively. More comparable to Armenia based on climatic conditions and size, Sweden has also successfully integrated nuclear energy into its power grid, generating 47 TWh of electricity. These examples clearly illustrate the potential for Armenia to significantly increase its low-carbon electricity generation through expansion and refinement of its nuclear infrastructure.
The history of low-carbon electricity generation in Armenia is punctuated by fluctuations, particularly in hydropower and nuclear energy. The early 1990s saw an increase in hydropower, rising from 1.5 TWh in 1992 to 1.2 TWh in 1993. However, this was followed by a significant drop over the next two years. The rise of nuclear power began in 1995, with a steady increase until 1996, and a subsequent decline in 1997. This trend had an uptick towards the end of the 20th century and throughout the 2000s, with a slight periodic decrease. The last two decades have been somewhat unstable for nuclear and hydro energy, both fluctuating with slight increments and decreases. For instance, 2020 and 2021 saw nuclear energy dip, though being offset by a subtle rise in hydro energy. Overall, however, the potential for an increase in Armenia's low-carbon energy generation remains promising.