QAZAQ GREEN. Uzbekistan is witnessing a steady rise in electricity demand, growing at an annual rate of 7-8%, with projections indicating this trend will continue at around 7.5% per year until 2030. In response, the country is focusing on expanding both renewable and traditional energy sources. This was highlighted by Uzbek Energy Minister Zhurabek Mirzamakhmudov during his speech at Russian Energy Week on September 26, as reported by upl.uz.

“We are observing consistent growth in electricity demand, averaging 7-8% annually, and we expect this pattern to persist through 2030,” the minister stated.

To address the rising demand from its economy and population, Uzbekistan is rolling out a comprehensive energy development program. A key pillar of this strategy is the aggressive expansion of renewable energy sources (RES).

“Our target is to increase the share of RES in total electricity generation to 40% by 2030,” Mirzamakhmudov emphasized.

As part of this initiative, Uzbekistan plans to build solar and wind power plants with a combined capacity of 20 GW. By the end of this year, renewable energy is expected to make up 15% of the country’s energy mix, with the addition of 2.5-3.5 GW of new capacity annually in this sector.

However, the development of RES is just one aspect of Uzbekistan’s energy strategy. The country is simultaneously advancing projects to construct new hydroelectric plants, as well as modernizing and building thermal power plants (TPPs).

“By 2030, the total capacity of TPPs will reach 18.5 GW, ensuring balanced development across all segments of the energy sector,” the minister added.

Uzbekistan is also prioritizing the development of energy storage systems. This year, the country will commission its first lithium-ion battery-based energy storage system with a capacity of 300 MW. The plan is to increase the total capacity of these storage systems to 4.2 GW by 2030.

A crucial factor in the implementation of Uzbekistan’s ambitious energy program is foreign investment. According to Mirzamakhmudov, all renewable energy projects in the country are being developed with international capital.

Data from Uzbekistan’s Statistical Agency indicate positive trends in the energy sector. Between January and August this year, the country’s total electricity production grew by 4.1% compared to the previous year, reaching 54.43 billion kWh.