Uzbekistan has certified its first solar power plant under the International Renewable Energy Certificate (I-REC) system, signaling a significant step in the country’s shift to renewable energy.
This development was announced at a high-level roundtable on July 30, titled “Advancing Uzbekistan’s Low-Carbon Strategy and Green Energy Certification for a Net-Zero Future”, held at the Institute for Macroeconomic and Regional Studies. The event gathered government officials, international organizations, private sector leaders, and financial institutions to discuss steps toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2055 and scaling up the use of renewable energy certification.
As part of the discussions, the I-TRACK Foundation and the Center of Green Economy Projects introduced the I-REC certification mechanism, outlining its function and importance for Uzbekistan’s energy and trade policy. The roundtable also addressed the implications of the European Union’s incoming Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which will impose a carbon tax on high-emission imports from January 1, 2026. Participants emphasized how renewable energy certificates like I-REC(E) can help local exporters comply with these new regulations.
A major outcome of the event was the signing of an agreement between Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Economy and Finance and “Texnopark” to certify the country's first solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant under the I-REC system. The plant, installed by Texnopark with a total capacity of 823 kW, can now generate I-REC(E) certificates—digital documents verifying the production of renewable electricity.
What Are I-REC(E) Certificates?
Each I-REC(E) certificate verifies the generation of 1,000 kWh of electricity from renewable sources. These certificates serve three strategic purposes:
- New Revenue Streams for Producers: Companies operating renewable energy facilities—such as solar, wind, or hydropower—can register and trade certificates, thereby attracting green financing and accelerating the shift to a low-carbon economy.
- Market Advantage for Domestic Buyers: By purchasing I-REC(E) certificates, local companies can demonstrate their use of clean energy, align with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards, and improve access to foreign markets and investment.
- Export Opportunities: The certificates are internationally tradable. Uzbekistan issued its first exported I-REC(E)s in April 2025.
Growing Participation
The I-REC system is active in nearly 60 countries, with over 200mn certificates issued globally. In Uzbekistan, four hydropower plants under state-owned “Uzbekhydroenergo” (combined capacity of 962.4 MW) were previously registered. The solar station by Texnopark now becomes the first solar facility to be recognized internationally under the I-REC framework.
Over the past year and a half, Uzbekistan has issued 344,835 I-REC(E) certificates. Among the first to adopt the system are leading industrial and commercial companies, including Uzsanoatqurilishbank, British American Tobacco Uzbekistan, Click, UzAuto Motors, Navoiyuran, WorleyParsons, and Knauf.
Interest in I-REC(E) is also growing across sectors, with textile manufacturers and data centers expressing intent to participate in the certification market.
Uzbekistan’s move to scale up green energy certification is part of its broader national climate agenda, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2055. Officials say increasing participation in systems like I-REC will be critical in mitigating the risks posed by global carbon regulations and accelerating the country’s green economic transformation.
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