The First Stage in the Development of Electric Power Engineering (1897-1970)

Late 19th Century – 1920s

The development of the electric power industry in Azerbaijan began in the late 19th century. The first power plant, with an installed capacity of 550 kW, was built in 1897 in the oil-producing district of Baku by the Nobel Brothers. In 1901, the Bibiheybat Power Plant, with a capacity equivalent to 2,000 horsepower, was commissioned, followed by a second plant of the same capacity in 1902 in Black City (present-day White City). In 1913, electricity generation in Baku reached 109.8 thousand kWh, of which 95% was used by the oil industry, and only 5% was allocated for lighting purposes.

On the eve of the First World War, the “Electric Power” Joint-Stock Company operated two main plants with a total capacity of 45.7 MW, the largest of which was the Black City Power Plant with a capacity of 34.4 MW.

In 1920, the country’s limited electricity assets were nationalized. The Black City and Bayil thermal power plants, along with 0.4–2.0 kV distribution networks, were transferred to state ownership.

To ensure the electrification of Baku’s oil industry, plans were made during this period to commission three 20 MW turbo-generators at the Bayil and Black City plants and to convert the plants to natural gas fuel.

Establishment of Regional Power Plants (1930s)

With the industrial and agricultural expansion, the construction of new regional power plants began.

In Shaki, the Shaki Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) with a capacity of 1,660 kW was commissioned to supply power to the silk-weaving industry. In Quba, a 1,152 kW HPP was put into operation to support the local cannery. Additional hydroelectric stations were commissioned in Zurnabad and Qusar.

By 1935, the total installed capacity of power plants across the republic had reached 176.6 MW, and annual electricity generation amounted to 937 million kWh.

In the same year, the Main Energy Administration of the Republic—the predecessor of today’s “Azerenerji” OJSC—was established, and all power enterprises were placed under its jurisdiction.

The War and Industrial Growth (1940–1950s)

In the 1940s, the growing oil production and exploitation of deep wells required a significant expansion of the energy system.

During this period, the L. Krasin State District Power Plant (Krasin SDPP) in Bayil and the Red Star Thermal Power Center (now A. Bayramzade Baku TPP No. 1) were commissioned. By 1940, the total installed capacity of the republic’s power plants was 250 MW, and annual electricity generation reached 1.7 billion kWh. In 1941, the Sumgayit Thermal Power Center No. 1 was also put into operation.

Hydropower stage and the Mingachevir HPP (1950s)

The large-scale use of Azerbaijan’s hydropower potential began with the construction of the Mingachevir Water Junction. The Mingachevir Hydroelectric Power Plant was commissioned in 1954, and three years later, the Varvara HPP, part of the same hydro complex, began operation. Located on the Kura River, the Varvara HPP, with a capacity of 16.5 MW, functions as a flow regulator for the Mingachevir HPP.

Development of the Thermal Power System (1954–1970s)

In 1954, the first stage of the Shimal State District Power Plant (SDPP), with an installed capacity of 168.8 MW, was commissioned. In 1960, the first open-cycle 150 MW power unit in the Soviet Union was put into operation at this plant.

Construction of the Ali-Bayramli (now Shirvan) SDPP began in 1959—the first in Europe where the main equipment was installed outdoors. The commissioning of four 150 MW units in 1964–1965 not only fully met Azerbaijan’s energy demand but also enabled the export of 1.7 billion kWh of electricity to neighboring South Caucasus republics.

In 1962, the 11th turbo-generator of Sumgayit Thermal Power Center No. 1 was commissioned, increasing the plant's total capacity to 450 MW. Within the construction framework of the Sumgayit Thermal Power Center No. 2, the first turbo-generator was commissioned in 1966 and the second in 1972, bringing the total installed capacity to 220 MW.