Uzbekistan-UAE: Green energy as a priority for cooperation

Uzbekistan loses at least 4.5% of its GDP each year due to reliance on hydrocarbon energy sources such as oil, gas, and coal. Nearly half of the country’s power generation capacity is outdated, requiring substantial investments for restoration and modernization. Instead, transitioning to green energy presents a more economically and environmentally viable solution – one that the world is increasingly adopting.

The development and public presentation of the draft Presidential Decree on the State Program for Implementing the Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy in the Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy reflects Uzbekistan’s commitment to elevating efforts in this field to a new level.

Considering that green energy is emerging as a key driver of Uzbekistan’s national economy, urgent measures have been identified to address long-standing challenges faced by the population.

As is known, during January 13-15, as part of the official visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Abu Dhabi, negotiations took place between the leaders of Uzbekistan and the UAE, resulting in the signing of several important agreements.

An UzA correspondent interviewed a political analyst, Abduvali Soyibnazarov, regarding the outcomes of this visit and the prospects for cooperation with the UAE in green energy.

– Transition to a green economy and achieving carbon neutrality remain strategic goals in the fight against climate change. In this regard, it is essential to highlight the global initiatives of the United Arab Emirates in climate action and their significant contributions to green development. The UAE’s organization of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is a testament to this commitment. In December 2023, the Emirates hosted the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28).

The UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Sultan Al Jaber, stated that “The Nexus of Next: Supercharging Sustainable Progress”, ADSW 2025, will unlock unprecedented socio-economic opportunities for countries in the future. He described the event as a bold call to build a better future for all.

According to Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, the 2025 summit will serve as a platform to unite the global community to develop integrated energy, economy, and environmental sustainability solutions. Notably, Masdar, the conference organizer, has announced the launching of a new business focused on green hydrogen production to support the UAE’s green hydrogen economy. It is particularly noteworthy that following the negotiations between the Presidents of Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi, numerous essential agreements were signed.

It is worth noting that UAE companies are highly active in Uzbekistan, with green energy being a key area of bilateral cooperation. In December 2024, a 500 MW wind power plant was launched in Navoi region, implemented by Masdar. Over the past few years, this company has contributed to commissioning 1.5 GW of electricity generation capacity in Uzbekistan. Additionally, a 250 MW solar power plant to be built by Masdar is planned, with 648 hectares allocated for the project in Olot district. The plant is expected to be connected to the national grid by December 2025.

Another major project has been completed – the construction of three modern photovoltaic stations with a total capacity of 900 MW in Jizzakh, Samarkand, and Surkhandarya regions. The first phase of a 500 MW wind power plant in Tomdi district, Navoi region, has been completed.

The President has repeatedly emphasized that transitioning to a green economy and achieving carbon neutrality are strategic priorities for New Uzbekistan. Attaining these goals will contribute to both environmental protection and economic modernization. In recent years, the share of renewable energy in the country has doubled. The first practical steps toward green hydrogen production have also been taken. Under this initiative, 3,000 tons of hydrogen will be produced in the initial phase, followed by the processing of mineral fertilizers. Furthermore, a 52 MW wind power plant will be built. These efforts are a necessity. The uncontrolled use of traditional energy sources has become the greatest threat to global sustainable development, drastically altering the climate. Water scarcity, air pollution, biodiversity loss, and declining agricultural productivity are becoming increasingly urgent. The rise in air temperature in the region is twice the global average, the number of extreme heat days has doubled, and one-third of the region’s glaciers have disappeared.

A question arises: why is so much attention being given to the development of green energy in Uzbekistan? The reason lies in doubling industrial production by 2030 and bringing key sectors such as metallurgy, petrochemicals, and mechanical engineering to an entirely new level. The country plans to implement over 500 large industrial and infrastructure projects with a total investment of $150 billion. Uzbekistan urgently needs stable and reliable energy resources to achieve this ambitious goal. Estimates suggest that the country’s electricity demand will grow from 83 billion kilowatt-hours to 120 billion kilowatt-hours within five years. This demand can primarily be met through renewable energy sources. Additionally, in the ongoing search for ways to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, which has become a global challenge, the President of Uzbekistan actively promotes key proposals and initiatives at international summits.

In December 2023, countries agreed to triple green energy generation at the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai. Uzbekistan fully supported this initiative and announced that it would continue its active investment policy to increase the share of green energy sources to 27 GW by 2030. The “Solar Home” program was launched to stimulate the sector, offering preferential loans and subsidies for installing solar panels, along with a guaranteed buyback of the electricity produced. There is a growing global preference for products manufactured using green energy, and green energy certification is being widely introduced. Uzbekistan has taken its first steps toward supplying green energy to Asian and European markets through a clear plan and targeted efforts. As part of COP29, an agreement was signed with partners from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Saudi Arabia to export green energy to the European region.

As climate change increasingly becomes a serious global threat, directly impacting geopolitical conflicts, poverty reduction efforts, food and energy security, water use, and resource management, the significance of such initiatives and proposals will continue to grow.