[SMM Analysis] Construction of Renewable Energy Facilities in Uzbekistan: ESS Installations Capacity Expected to Reach 18GW by 2030

Uzbekistan is actively advancing its energy transition, aiming to become a model for energy transformation in Central Asia. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan announced that the country is expected to increase the share of renewable energy in total power generation to 54% by 2030, up from the original target of 40%, with an additional installed capacity of 19,000 MW. This ambitious goal is expected to be achieved by commissioning 18 solar and wind power plants with a total capacity of 3,400 MW and energy storage systems with a capacity of 1,800 MW by 2025. The total power generation is projected to reach 12 billion kWh, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 5 million households, while reducing harmful gas emissions by 6.5 million mt.

Uzbekistan's energy transition plan has received extensive support and participation from the international community. The total investment in the 18 new energy projects amounts to $3.7 billion, covering a wide range of types, including solar, wind, ESS, and small hydropower plants. Notably, the Andijan and Fergana regions have established the country's first large-scale ESS with a capacity of 300 MW, marking a significant milestone in Uzbekistan's energy technology sector. Additionally, six power plants constructed in collaboration with internationally renowned energy companies have a total capacity of 2.5 GW, with a combined investment of $3.5 billion.

The implementation of these projects is expected to add 9.5 billion kWh of electricity annually, save 2.5 billion m³ of natural gas, and reduce harmful emissions by 4.6 million mt, significantly improving the energy supply chain and providing more stable and cleaner energy to over 4 million households. Uzbekistan's energy transition plan not only contributes to optimizing its energy structure and environmental protection but also creates vast opportunities for international energy cooperation, promoting energy interconnection under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Uzbekistan also plans to further liberalize its electricity market, aiming to establish a competitive wholesale electricity market by the end of next year and introduce public-private partnerships in energy distribution to attract $4 billion in investments for network modernization. Moreover, Uzbekistan has expanded international cooperation in the green energy sector, signing agreements under the COP-29 framework with Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Saudi Arabia to jointly export "green energy" to Europe. A unified platform has also been launched to ensure the stability of the regional energy system.

The year 2025 has been declared Uzbekistan's Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy, with the government focusing on "green" technologies, water conservation, and afforestation to address global warming and the increasing frequency of natural disasters. These initiatives demonstrate Uzbekistan's firm commitment to green development and environmental protection, as well as its active role in global sustainable development.

SMM New Energy Industry Research Department

Cong Wang 021-51666838

Xiaodan Yu 021-20707870

Rui Ma 021-51595780

Ying Xu 021-51666707

Disheng Feng 021-51666714

Yujun Liu 021-20707895

Yanlin Lü 021-20707875

Zhicheng Zhou 021-51666711

Haohan Zhang 021-51666752

Zihan Wang 021-51666914

Xiaoxuan Ren 021-20707866

Yushuo Liang 021-20707892

Jie Wang 021-51595902

Yang Xu 021-51666760

Boling Chen 021-51666836