From April 2025 through March 2026, fossil fuels supplied about 85% of Azerbaijan’s electricity consumption, with gas alone accounting for almost the entire fossil share. Low-carbon sources provided the remaining 15%, led by hydropower at about 13% and wind at roughly 1.4%. This leaves Azerbaijan heavily dependent on fossil electricity, with substantial room to expand clean generation and reduce the climate impacts and air pollution associated with fossil fuels.

Is Electricity Growing in Azerbaijan?

The latest 2026 figures do not establish whether electricity consumption is growing year on year, but they show that consumption remains well below its historical peak. At about 2,525 kWh per person, it was roughly 800 kWh, or 24%, below the record of 3,329 kWh reached in 1988. Low-carbon electricity generation was about 370 kWh per person, just 7 kWh below its 2010 record of 377 kWh. Being close to that clean-electricity record is encouraging, but the lack of a new high highlights the need for stronger growth to support electrification and future electricity demand.

Suggestions

Azerbaijan should prioritize solar expansion while exploring nuclear generation and developing more wind power. Nearby Armenia demonstrates nuclear’s potential, generating 29% of its electricity from this low-carbon source, while the United Arab Emirates provides another useful example at 20%. Neighboring Turkey generates about 12% of its electricity from solar and another 12% from wind, offering relevant experience in expanding both technologies. Azerbaijan could also learn from solar leaders such as Cyprus, at 23%, and the US state of Nevada, at 35%. Clear procurement plans, investment in transmission, and preparation for a nuclear program could help turn these examples into sustained clean-electricity growth.

History

Azerbaijan’s low-carbon electricity history has largely been shaped by fluctuating hydropower output. A decline of 0.5 TWh in 1986 was followed by gains of 1 TWh in 1990 and 0.7 TWh in 1993, before setbacks in 1994 and 1999. Hydropower recovered in 2002–2003, adding a combined 1.1 TWh, but fell again in 2006. A strong 1.1 TWh increase in 2010 was more than reversed by combined declines of 2 TWh during 2011–2013. Modest gains in 2015–2016 preceded another decline in 2020. More recent developments are encouraging: hydropower increased by 0.3 TWh in 2022, 1.3 TWh in 2024, and 0.5 TWh in 2025; solar added 0.3 TWh in 2024, and wind added 0.4 TWh in 2026. These additions provide a welcome foundation for broader, sustained low-carbon electricity growth.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Apr 2025 – Mar 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.