Electricity in Azerbaijan in 2024
As of 2024, Azerbaijan's electricity consumption is predominantly reliant on fossil fuels, with gas comprising nearly 88% of the total usage. This means that fossil fuels account for more than four-fifths of the electricity production, which raises concerns regarding environmental sustainability and climate change due to carbon emissions. On the other hand, low-carbon energy sources such as hydropower and solar only contribute about 12% to the country's electricity mix, with hydropower leading at approximately 10% and solar contributing close to 1.4%. The current state of electricity generation highlights a need for a significant shift towards cleaner energy to reduce Azerbaijan’s carbon footprint and align with global green energy goals.
Data sources used on this page include Ember, Energy Institute and IEA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Azerbaijan?
Despite these figures, electricity consumption in Azerbaijan has not experienced growth over the historical record. The per capita consumption stands at 2,818 kWh, which is approximately 15% lower than the 1988 peak. This stagnation is also reflected in low-carbon electricity generation, which remains slightly below its 2010 peak at 337 kWh per person. Such trends indicate a worrying lack of progress in adopting sustainable electricity sources and potentially underline systemic challenges or lack of infrastructure investment. To address the increasing demand for greener alternatives, Azerbaijan needs to redefine its energy policy to support the expansion of clean energy generation.
Suggestions
To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Azerbaijan can draw inspiration from successful regions that have effectively integrated nuclear and solar energy into their electricity mix. For instance, France and Slovakia achieve more than half of their electricity from nuclear power, while states like Nevada and California have leveraged solar power effectively, reaching close to a third of their total electricity generation. Emulating such strategies, Azerbaijan could consider investments in nuclear facilities, similar to Armenia’s 33% nuclear contribution, as well as enhance solar adoption akin to Lebanon's achievement of over 30%. By focusing on these clean energy technologies, Azerbaijan could substantially enhance its low-carbon electricity capacity, tackling climate impact and meeting future energy demand.
History
Throughout the history of low-carbon electricity in Azerbaijan, fluctuating support and investment levels have shaped the development of hydropower. In the early 1990s, significant gains were followed by periods of decline, such as a decrease of 0.9 TWh in 2012. However, incremental recoveries were observed, with a notable increase of 1.3 TWh in hydroelectric and 0.3 TWh in solar power in 2024. These trends reveal an inconsistent commitment to low-carbon sources over the years, underpinned by missed opportunities to stabilize and grow the clean electricity share substantially. Consistency in energy policy focusing on expansion can position Azerbaijan better in the global arena for sustainable electricity.
