Uzbekistan May Increase Renewable Energy Targets For 2030

• Uzbekistan is considering increasing its national renewable energy targets for 2030
• For solar PV, it could mean increasing the target from 5 GW by 2030 to 7 GW, and for wind energy it could increase from 3 GW to 5 GW
• The Energy Ministry is updating the strategy which will be ready in early 2022

The Ministry of Energy in Uzbekistan is contemplating an upward revision of the country's renewable energy target for 2030, aiming to grow beyond the currently adopted targets under its Strategic Energy Plan 2020-2030, according to which it aims to achieve 5 GW solar power capacity, and 3 GW of wind energy by 2030, contributing to a total of 29.3 GW power generation capacity (see Uzbekistan Confirms 5 GW Solar Target By 2030).

The revised targets could mean an addition of 2 GW for solar PV capacity, increasing its 5 GW aim by 2030 to 7 GW, and for wind energy it could grow from 3 GW to 5 GW.

For the ministry this proposed revision comes in the wake of increase in demand for electricity, despite the economic disruption caused by COVID-19. It is also inspired by 'low tariffs' discovered in the competitive PV tenders launched in the country that have brought 'optimism' on the cost structure of ultimate tariffs for businesses and households.

Notably, Abu Dhabi's Masdar is the winner of 4 solar power auctions concluded in Uzbekistan since 2019 taking winning PV tariffs to as low as $0.018 per kWh (see Masdar Wins Uzbek's Sherabad Solar Power Auction).

"We at the Ministry of Energy are working hard to increase the efficiency of existing infrastructure and constantly looking for opportunities to ensure the uninterrupted supply of electricity both to the population and the country's growing and diversifying industries," shared country's Energy Minister Alisher Sultanov. "Recent tenders showed some previously hidden potential in the renewables sector, and we are confident that exploiting this potential will be successful."

The ministry said since 2020 when it adopted the power capacity development targets, it has signed 16 power purchase agreements (PPA) with various international private power producers to build solar PV, wind, gas engine and CCGT power plants, all in cooperation with various national and international agencies.

The ministry is currently in the process of updating its Concept note for ensuring electricity supply in Uzbekistan 2020-2030, which will be available for stakeholders to view early next year.