Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 31 July, the Institute for Macroeconomic and Regional Studies hosted a roundtable on the topic “Uzbekistan’s Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Strategy and the Green Energy Certification System.”

The discussion brought together representatives of ministries and agencies, international organizations, the banking sector, and private companies. The main focus was on achieving long-term carbon neutrality and improving the green certification system.

The I-TRACK Fund, in cooperation with the Center for Green Economy Projects, presented the International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-REC) system, highlighting its importance and the current stage of its implementation in Uzbekistan. Special emphasis was placed on the introduction of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which comes into force on January 1, 2026, and will impose a carbon tax on goods exported to the European Union. In this context, the importance of Uzbek companies obtaining green certificates to maintain their competitiveness in the European market was underscored.

During the event, an agreement was signed between the Ministry of Economy and Finance and Technopark LLC for the issuance of I-REC(E) certificates, as well as for the first-ever registration of a solar power plant in Uzbekistan in the I-REC international system. Technopark was awarded the corresponding certificate, enabling certification of electricity generated by its 823 kW solar power station.

The I-REC(E) system provides for the issuance of a digital certificate confirming the production of 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity from renewable sources. It operates in about 60 countries, where more than 200 million certificates have already been issued.

The benefits for Uzbekistan are clear. Owners of solar, wind, hydro, and biogas plants gain additional income and opportunities to attract green financing. For domestic producers, the certificates enhance competitiveness, improve investment appeal, ensure compliance with ESG principles, and demonstrate the use of clean energy. Moreover, green certificates themselves can be exported. In April this year, Uzbekistan carried out its first export of such certificates.

Currently, four hydropower plants of Uzbekhydroenergo JSC with a total capacity of 962.4 MW are registered in the I-REC system. Over the past year and a half, 344,835 certificates have been issued in Uzbekistan.

The Technopark solar station has become the country’s first solar facility included in the system. Among the first users are Uzpromstroybank JSC, British-American Tobacco Uzbekistan, WorleyParsons, Energoqurilishindustriya, Click, Knauf, UzAuto Motors, and Navoiuran. At present, enterprises in the textile industry and data centers are also showing interest in joining the system.