By 2026, every household in Uzbekistan could be powered entirely by clean energy. The government has projected that green energy generation will reach 23 billion kilowatt-hours, sufficient for the entire population’s annual electricity needs.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev shared this vision during the launch of multiple renewable and grid projects at the “Powering the Future: Sustainable Energy for New Uzbekistan” forum.
€9.46 Billion Investment in New Projects
A significant development includes the announcement of 42 new projects collectively valued at €9.46 billion. These projects encompass generation facilities, energy-storage systems, substations, and high-voltage networks, all part of a comprehensive strategy to enhance energy security and upgrade infrastructure.
The projects feature a diverse mix of 16 solar, wind, thermal, and hydropower plants, with a combined capacity of 3,500 megawatts, spread across various regions of Uzbekistan. Both public and private sectors contribute to these initiatives.
Additionally, Uzbekistan plans to introduce 10 large-scale energy storage systems, providing 1,245 megawatts of capacity. As per the Energy Ministry, these systems can inject up to 1.5 billion kilowatt-hours of additional electricity into the grid during peak times, stabilizing supply.
Supporting this infrastructure, the country is commissioning 11 substations and constructing 420 kilometers of high-voltage transmission lines.
“We have set two major objectives as our main priorities in this direction. The first is to ensure a reliable and uninterrupted energy supply for all sectors and regions. The second is to achieve this goal through modern, environmentally friendly, and renewable alternative energy sources,” Mirziyoyev stated.
Influence of Foreign Investment
The forum also highlighted the role of international partnerships. Uzbekistan has attracted approximately €30 billion in foreign investments over recent years, enhancing its capacity by 9,000 megawatts since 2017. Consequently, total electricity generation has increased from 60 billion kilowatt-hours to 85 billion by 2024.
International companies from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, the UAE, China, France, and Qatar play a significant role in these projects. Notably, Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power has been a robust investor. “Uzbekistan’s energy mix is becoming greener every year,” remarked Jon Zaidi, ACWA Power’s Country Head. “This year alone we added more than 2,500 megawatts to the grid, and the Vision 2030 target of reaching 54% renewables is very important for us.”
France’s Voltalia has also contributed, signing an agreement for a 200-megawatt hybrid wind generation and storage project. Deputy CEO Yoni Ammar noted, “We are also developing a 500-megawatt storage project called Turan, and expect construction to begin in 2026.”
European firms remain involved in conventional energy projects as well. Pierre-Paul Antheunissens, General Director of Electricite de France (EDF) Central Asia, stated: “In Uzbekistan we are building two major gas-fired power plants together with partners from Japan, Qatar, and Germany, with the first turbine tests set to take place this week.”
Environmental Goals and Future Plans
Uzbekistan’s Energy Minister, Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, emphasized the environmental benefits, noting that renewable energy expansion will cut natural gas use by almost 7 billion cubic meters and prevent 11 million tons of emissions.
Looking ahead to 2030, the government aims to add over 17,000 megawatts of renewable capacity, raising green energy’s share in total generation to 54%. This goal involves constructing 6,000 kilometers of high-voltage networks, including 1,000 kilometers planned for next year.
At the COP-30 climate conference in Brazil, Uzbekistan showcased the iCraft initiative, developed with the World Bank. This project has achieved 23 million tons of verified greenhouse-gas reductions and launched a carbon-credit trading system. Seventeen domestic companies have obtained international green-energy certification, with plans to expand this number to 100 within two years.
Expanding Public–Private Partnerships
Uzbekistan is extending public–private partnerships to energy distribution. This year, the Samarkand regional grid was transferred to private management under an agreement with Turkiye’s Aksa Elektrik. The company will manage operations, invest in modernization, and reduce losses, potentially saving around €17.2 million annually.
The government plans to offer more regional grids to investors, aiming to boost efficiency and introduce new management practices.
Small-scale renewable projects are also a focus. A program to install 107 megawatts of rooftop and micro-solar plants across 300 neighborhoods, or mahallas, aims to deliver green energy to 30,000 low-income families, who can also sell excess electricity back to the grid.
Entrepreneurs are investing in small hydropower, with 40 micro-hydro plants generating 120 million kilowatt-hours of electricity this year. An additional 65 megawatts of capacity is planned for next year, expected to enhance electricity supply for 80,000 households.
Strengthening Regional Collaboration
Uzbekistan is bolstering energy cooperation with neighboring countries. Next year, the nation will help finance the Kambarata-1 hydropower project alongside Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan to strengthen the region’s shared water-energy system.
In parallel, work continues on the Green Energy Corridor, a collaborative project with Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, designed to facilitate Central Asian electricity exports to Europe.
Original Story at www.euronews.com