Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan aims to commission 4.2 gigawatts of energy storage systems by 2030. This was announced by the country’s Energy Minister Jorabek Mirzamakhmudov at the "Russian Energy Week."

According to the minister, one of the main trends today is the development of renewable energy sources alongside traditional methods of generation. This shift is driven by an increasing demand for electricity, spurred by economic growth and a rising population.

Mirzamakhmudov highlighted that Uzbekistan’s economy grows by 6% annually, and the population increases by 1 million people each year. Consequently, the demand for electricity is rising by 7-8% annually, which could reach 7.5% per year by 2030.

The growing energy consumption necessitates the development of new generation sources. As part of its adopted program, Uzbekistan plans to commission up to 20 gigawatts of solar and wind power plants by 2030. It is expected that the share of renewable energy sources in the country’s overall energy balance will reach 40%.

Currently, the share of generation from renewable sources is about 10%, and this figure is expected to rise to 15% by the end of the year. Mirzamakhmudov emphasized that approximately 2.5-3.5 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity will be commissioned annually.

At the same time, Uzbekistan will continue to develop other types of generation. The country is actively modernizing and constructing thermal power plants and expanding hydroelectric facilities. The minister reported that by the end of this year, thermal power plant capacity will reach 14 gigawatts, with a target of 18.5 gigawatts by 2030.

Mirzamakhmudov also emphasized the importance of developing energy storage systems. This year, Uzbekistan plans to commission its first 300 megawatts of storage capacity. Overall, by 2030, the country will deploy 4.2 gigawatts of energy storage systems, primarily based on lithium-ion batteries. Additionally, projects for constructing pumped storage power plants are planned.

He added that all renewable energy projects are financed through direct foreign investments.