Uzbekistan is rapidly expanding its green energy sector to ensure a stable and sustainable energy supply for its growing economy. According to a report on the official website of the President of Uzbekistan, nearly $6 billion in foreign direct investment has been attracted to the sector in a short period, with annual electricity production increasing from 59 billion to 82 billion kilowatt-hours.
With Uzbekistan’s population projected to surpass 41 million and the economy expected to reach $200 billion by 2030, the country is taking proactive steps to expand its energy capacity through renewable sources.
In 2025 alone, Uzbekistan plans to launch 12 solar power plants, 4 wind farms, and 12 energy storage systems. These projects represent over $5 billion in investment and will provide a combined generation capacity of approximately 9 billion kilowatt-hours. In addition, 11 new projects valued at $7.2 billion will also begin construction.
Beyond power generation, energy efficiency has become a national priority. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has tasked industry leaders with reducing energy losses and installing energy-efficient equipment, particularly in large industrial enterprises.
Eighteen key sectors account for one-third of Uzbekistan's total electricity consumption. For example, water management pumps alone consume 6.5 billion kilowatt-hours annually.
To address this, Uzbekistan will modernize 12 major pump stations, each equipped with a 75–100 MW solar power plant and a 50 MW storage system. This initiative is expected to cut pump-related energy use by 2 billion kilowatt-hours annually, reducing it from 6.5 to 4.5 billion. The first upgrades will begin on the Karshi main canal, where water delivery costs are especially high.
The oil and gas sector also holds untapped potential. By installing 240 MW of photovoltaic systems and 300 MW of storage, enterprises in this sector could generate at least 600 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
June 24, 2025