By 2026, Uzbekistan plans to have 5,000 MW of solar and wind capacity, and by 2030, this figure is expected to exceed 18,000 MW. This would enable the country to produce 50bn kWh of electricity annually, save 15bn cubic meters of natural gas, and prevent the emission of 21mn tons of harmful gases every year. These efforts will allow Uzbekistan to generate 40% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
Over the past 6-7 years, Uzbekistan has made strides in expanding its production of electricity from solar and wind sources, marking a decisive shift towards more sustainable energy solutions.
A total of 38 agreements have been signed with international companies to construct solar and wind power plants, with a combined capacity of 20,630 MW. This includes solar photovoltaic plants with a capacity of 7,630 MW and wind farms at 13,000 MW. To support these initiatives, the president of Uzbekistan has signed 29 decrees to facilitate the implementation of these projects.
Currently, work is underway on several large-scale renewable energy projects, including 7 solar photovoltaic plants with a total capacity of 1,700 MW and 3 wind farms totaling 900 MW. Notable international investors such as Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power, the UAE's Masdar, and France's Voltalia, alongside Chinese companies like Gezhouba Overseas Investment Group and China Datang Overseas Investment, are spearheading these efforts. These projects are set to bring an investment of approximately $24.37bn, fully funded by foreign direct investments.
To date, Uzbekistan has already successfully commissioned 9 solar power plants and 1 wind farm, collectively generating 2.7 GW of "green" electricity. These plants are spread across 7 regions and are significantly contributing to the country's energy mix.
Key milestones in this green energy transformation include:
- August 2021: Launch of Uzbekistan’s first large-scale solar photovoltaic plant in Karmana, Navoi region, with a 100 MW capacity.
- May 2022: A second solar plant of 100 MW capacity begins operations in Nurabad, Samarkand region.
- December 2023: Commissioning of solar plants in Gallaorol, Jizzakh (220 MW), Karaulbazar, Bukhara (200 MW), and Sherabad, Surkhandarya (457 MW).
- May 2024: Additional plants in Nishan, Kashkadarya (100 MW and 200 MW), and Yukorichirchik, Tashkent (200 MW).
As of November 6, 2024, Uzbekistan's solar and wind power plants have generated 4.19bn kWh of electricity, including 3.65bn kWh from solar plants and 543.7mn kWh from wind farms. This production has helped save 1.27bn cubic meters of natural gas and prevent the emission of 1.76mn tons of harmful gases into the atmosphere. To put this into perspective, the electricity generated so far could meet the annual consumption of nearly 1.75mn households.
Looking ahead, Uzbekistan has ambitious plans for further growth in renewable energy. By the end of 2024, 10 additional solar and wind power plants, with a combined capacity of 2,600 MW, are set to be commissioned. In 2025, 7 more plants with 3,150 MW capacity will come online, and by 2030, the country aims to operate 9 wind farms with a total capacity of 9,300 MW in the Republic of Karakalpakstan.
In another move, Uzbekistan introduced a program in 2021 to purchase electricity generated by solar panels installed by households. By September 2024, the government had paid over UZS 2.4bn ($186,646) to 6,379 citizens for 2.4mn kWh of electricity sold back to the grid. From January to September of this year, 6,397 individuals sold a total of 8.94mn kWh of surplus electricity, at a rate of UZS 1,000 ($0.08) per kWh. These payments are processed monthly via the State Tax Committee's "Soliq" mobile app.
To further encourage the adoption of solar energy, the government has created an online platform, where citizens can purchase solar panels and solar water heaters. These products are available through a 3-year interest-free installment plan or as a one-time purchase, with compensation based on the unit’s capacity.
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