Electricity in Azerbaijan in 2024
In 2024, Azerbaijan's electricity consumption is predominantly reliant on fossil fuels, with more than 88% of electricity being generated this way, and natural gas alone contributing about 88% as well. In contrast, low-carbon electricity sources such as hydropower and solar are responsible for almost 12% of the country's electricity generation. Within this low-carbon category, hydropower is the dominant contributor at nearly 10%, while solar power remains a small but important component at around 1.4%. This indicates a substantial opportunity for Azerbaijan to increase its share of clean energy sources and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, which contribute to climate change and air pollution.
Is Electricity Growing in Azerbaijan?
Electricity consumption in Azerbaijan has not yet returned to its historic heights. The per capita electricity consumption in 2024 stands at approximately 2818 kWh, which is a decrease of over 500 kWh from the 1988 peak of 3329 kWh per person. Additionally, the generation of low-carbon electricity is currently around 337 kWh per person, which is 40 kWh less than the record set in 2010. This indicates a stagnation in the growth of electricity consumption, particularly in low-carbon energy, rather than the robust expansion that countries should aim for in this climate-conscious era to meet future demands driven by developments such as electrification and AI growth.
Suggestions
To boost low-carbon electricity generation, Azerbaijan can look to other countries and regions that have successfully integrated solar, wind, and nuclear power into their electricity mix. France and Ukraine, with a significant portion of their electricity coming from nuclear power, can serve as models for developing a robust nuclear infrastructure. Additionally, regions such as Nevada and Lebanon have effectively harnessed solar energy, while countries like Denmark and states like Iowa have excelled in wind energy generation. Learning from these regions, Azerbaijan could expand both solar and nuclear power, leveraging its geographical and technical potential to establish a more sustainable and secure energy future.
History
Azerbaijan's history of low-carbon electricity generation shows a fluctuating pattern over the years. In the early 1980s, hydropower generation saw a decline, with a significant Negative trend continuing into the 1990s. However, there was a notable increase in 1990 and another positive jump in 1993. The early 2000s marked a modest rise in hydropower capacity with several small increases, though punctuated by occasional declines. A significant boost came in 2010, but then hydropower numbers decreased consecutively in 2011 and 2012, with another decline following until a positive trend reemerged in 2020, reaching a peak increase in 2024. The year 2024 also saw an incremental contribution from solar energy generation, suggesting an important step toward diversifying and enhancing the country's clean electricity profile.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.