Electricity in Uzbekistan in 2023
The current state of electricity consumption in Uzbekistan is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with a significant portion of the country's electricity—more than 85%—coming from fossil energy sources such as gas and coal. Particularly, gas dominates electricity generation, making up close to 80%. Low-carbon energy, which includes clean sources like hydropower, contributes almost 9% to the electricity mix, with hydropower itself accounting for around 8%. Net imports add a modest 4% to the overall electrical consumption, depicting a market still dependent on fossil fuels for its energy needs. This reliance on fossil fuels poses challenges in terms of sustainability and environmental concerns, underscoring the need for extending clean energy sources within the electricity sector.
Is Electricity Growing in Uzbekistan?
Looking at historical trends, Uzbekistan has experienced a noticeable decline in electricity consumption per person, moving from a high of nearly 2900 kWh in the late 1980s to a recent figure of approximately 2220 kWh. This drop of over 670 kWh per person suggests a reduction in electricity utilization, which can be an indicator of economic challenges or deficiencies in energy infrastructure. Similarly, low-carbon electricity generation has also seen a decrease, with the latest numbers at 198 kWh per person, down from a previous peak of 368 in the late 1980s, exposing an urgent need and opportunity to revitalize and expand the adoption of clean energy technologies in order to reverse these declines and support future growth and electrification.
Suggestions
To enhance the share of low-carbon electricity generation, Uzbekistan could learn from countries that have embraced nuclear and solar energy effectively. Countries like Ukraine, with more than half of its electricity generated from nuclear energy, and Armenia, where nuclear power contributes almost a third, could serve as models for Uzbekistan, a nation with similar regional and resource challenges. Incorporating nuclear energy into Uzbekistan's electricity mix could provide a stable and substantial clean energy resource. Moreover, leveraging solar energy, as seen in nations like Yemen and Morocco, where it represents more than a fifth of the electricity mix, would be beneficial given Uzbekistan's favorable climate for solar power. By pursuing strategic investments in nuclear and solar technologies, Uzbekistan can build a sustainable, low-carbon future while reducing its reliance on fossil sources.
History
Historically, Uzbekistan's low-carbon electricity generation, primarily through hydropower, has been subject to variabilities. In the late 1980s and 1990s, there were significant fluctuations with notable increases in the early 1990s and declines later in that decade and onward. More recent years have also seen this dynamic with several years of increase alternating with years of decline, such as significant drops in 2006 and 2011 and gains in years like 2009 and 2010. These shifts suggest underlying challenges in sustaining consistent output from hydropower sources. Given this variability, exploring more stable and predictable low-carbon sources like nuclear energy alongside solar investments would be crucial. Such diversification could ensure a more resilient and reliable contribution of low-carbon electricity to Uzbekistan’s energy mix.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.