Armenia's electricity consumption in 2024 reveals a vibrant shift towards low-carbon energy sources. Presently, more than half—approximately 59%—of the electricity consumed originates from low-carbon technologies. Within this category, nuclear power stands out, contributing nearly a third at 33% of the total electricity production. Hydropower and solar power further enrich Armenia’s green energy landscape, accounting for around 21% and 5% respectively. Meanwhile, electricity generated from fossil fuels, particularly natural gas, accounts for about 40% of the energy mix, underscoring the need to further reduce reliance on fossil fuels given their contribution to climate change and air pollution.
Data sources used on this page include Ember and IEA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Armenia?
Examining electricity consumption trends, Armenia is yet to surpass its historic peak from 1990, when per-person electricity use hit 3176 kWh. As of 2024, the figure rests at 3005 kWh per person, marking a decrease of 171 kWh from the previous record. However, a silver lining emerges in the sphere of low-carbon electricity: Armenia recently set a new record with 1771 kWh per person, slightly surpassing its prior high from 2022 by 29 kWh per person. This growth in low-carbon electricity is promising, but the overall electricity consumption must increase to keep pace with growing demands, particularly through clean energy expansion.
Suggestions
In efforts to further bolster low-carbon electricity generation, Armenia can capitalize on its existing nuclear infrastructure, as it already plays a significant role. Expanding this capacity could emulate successful examples such as France and Slovakia, where nuclear energy constitutes 70% and 66% of electricity generation respectively. Concurrently, given the similar potential for solar energy, the country could look towards Lebanon and Nevada, which capitalize significantly on solar resources with 31% and 33% of their electricity from solar respectively. By learning from these regions, Armenia can diversify its low-carbon portfolio and work toward reducing dependency on fossil fuels.
History
Historically, Armenia's low-carbon electricity generation has experienced both fluctuations and growth. In the early 1990s, significant gains in nuclear power were recorded, particularly in 1996 with an increase of 2 TWh, although followed by a few years of decline. The late 1990s and early 2000s showed a mixed bag of minor ups and downs in both nuclear and hydropower. Notably, nuclear electricity took a dip between 2016 and 2021, accentuating the critical need for consistent investments and expansions in green technologies. However, in 2022, a positive upswing with a nuclear increase of 1 TWh marked a renewal of efforts in boosting sustainable electricity generation, setting the stage for continuing progress in the current decade.
