Uzbekistan Embracing Large-Scale Green Transition
Uzbekistan plans a substantial shift towards renewable energy in 2025, aiming to boost the renewable energy usage share from the current 16% to 26% by year-end. The initiative, declared as "The Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy" by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, is not merely focused on clean energy but also on enhancing energy efficiency across various industries.
mirrorzoyev has outlined a goal for Uzbekistan to diminish reliance on raw material exports by diversifying its economy and positioning itself better within the global trading framework through green energy. The country expects 16 solar and wind energy-generating projects with a capacity of 3.5 Gigawatts to be operational in 2025, contributing to the achieved goal.
In an earlier announcement in January, President Mirziyoyev upgraded the renewable energy target from 40% to 54% in Uzbek energy generation by 2030. The plan includes implementing national systems for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions and trading emission quotas. Moreover, by 2030, 55% of new industrial and infrastructure projects shall be "green."
To cater to environmentally conscious importers in the West, the president has instructed government ministries to prioritize developing industries that provide more value per unit of energy used, such as automobile, pharmaceutical, and food industries. These sectors produce 15-20 times more value added per ton of energy than chemical, construction, and textile sectors, according to the president.
To support Mirziyoyev's green energy push, the country has already installed solar panels on 60,000 roofs, aiming to install them on half of all roofs in the nation. Although no specific timeframe has been provided for reaching this goal.
The World Bank is providing a $100 million concessional credit to support Uzbekistan's modernization of its electrical distribution networks, integration of renewable energy, and enhancement of energy sector efficiency. This initiative is part of Uzbekistan's broader strategy to deploy 25 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030. Uzbekistan is also actively developing solar and wind power plants in regions like Navoi, Bukhara, and Samarkand with foreign investors.
Furthermore, Uzbekistan's green development strategy includes improving energy efficiency in residential and industrial buildings, creating "smart" and "green" cities, and reducing water losses in the agricultural sector through digital systems and precision farming.
- In Uzbekistan's green development strategy, the finance ministry is directed to prioritize industries such as automobile, pharmaceutical, and food, which produce a higher value per unit of energy compared to chemical, construction, and textile sectors, in an effort to cater to environmentally conscious importers in the West.
- The renewable energy usage share in Uzbekistan is planned to increase from the current 16% to 26% by 2025, with the operation of 16 solar and wind energy-generating projects, contributing a capacity of 3.5 Gigawatts towards this goal.
- Mirrorzoyev, the President of Uzbekistan, has outlined a goal for Uzbekistan to diminish its reliance on raw material exports by diversifying its economy through green energy, positioning the country better within the global trading framework.
- The country's goal for 2030 includes implementing national systems for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions and trading emission quotas, as well as making 55% of new industrial and infrastructure projects "green."
- In line with Mirziyoyev's green energy push, solar panels have already been installed on 60,000 roofs in Uzbekistan, with an ambition to install them on half of all roofs in the nation, though no specific timeframe has been provided for reaching this goal.
