In accordance with amendments to the Law "On Efficient Use of Energy Resources and Energy Efficiency," incandescent bulbs are being gradually phased out of circulation in Azerbaijan to enhance energy efficiency.
According to information released by the Ministry of Energy, starting from January 1, 2026, the production, import, and sale of incandescent bulbs with a power of 60 watts and higher will be banned, and from July 1, 2026, this will extend to bulbs with power between 25 watts (inclusive) and 60 watts. The ban does not apply to bulbs used in industrial processes or for technological purposes.
Calculations by the Ministry show that LED bulbs offer significant advantages over incandescent ones in terms of both energy consumption and cost. For instance, a single LED bulb with a lifespan of 15,000 hours (approximately 7 years) replaces 17 standard 1,000-hour incandescent bulbs. To achieve the same lighting level, a 7-watt LED bulb is sufficient instead of a 60-watt incandescent one. As a result, while the total cost of an LED bulb is 14.4 manats, the equivalent in incandescent bulbs reaches 82.2 manats.
The calculations indicate that the annual consumption of 1 million 60-watt incandescent bulbs requires 131.4 million kWh of electricity, equivalent to 29.1 million cubic meters of natural gas and 63,600 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Switching to the same number of LEDs would reduce energy consumption, fuel use, and emissions by approximately 8.6 times. If half of the country's 2.7 million household subscribers switch from incandescent to LED bulbs, daily electricity use for lighting could drop from 4.86 million kWh to 567,000 kWh.
LED bulbs are also better for eye health due to their low flicker rate (1%), compared to 13% in incandescent bulbs. They contain no mercury or other harmful substances, emit less heat, have a longer lifespan, and are more resistant to voltage fluctuations.
The gradual phase-out of incandescent bulbs and the transition to LED technologies serve to improve energy efficiency, reduce citizens' expenses, minimize environmental impact, and promote sustainable energy consumption habits. Therefore, citizens and businesses are recommended to prioritize energy-efficient lighting solutions.