Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Solar and wind power plants generated 9.4% of Uzbekistan's electricity from 1 to 10 November, saving 63 million cubic metres of natural gas, the Energy Ministry said.
The country generated 2.5 billion kWh of electricity during the 10-day period. Solar power plants produced 140.6 million kWh, while wind farms generated 95.7 million kWh.
Their combined output also prevented the release of 136,000 tonnes of harmful substances into the atmosphere, according to the ministry.
Thermal power plants consumed 405.5 million cubic metres of natural gas to generate electricity over the same period.
However, output from renewable energy sources fluctuates depending on weather conditions, making it difficult for solar and wind plants to maintain consistent generation throughout the day.
Weather affects renewable generation
Solar power generation falls during the autumn and winter as daylight hours become shorter and solar radiation decreases. Cloud cover also affects the amount of electricity produced by solar panels.
Wind farms, meanwhile, depend on wind speeds. When winds weaken, their electricity output declines.
The difference was evident in daily generation figures for November 8 and 9.
On November 8, solar and wind power plants generated a combined 38.6 million kWh of electricity. The following day, their output fell to 11.9 million kWh.
Over the same period, electricity generation by thermal power plants increased from 187.7 million kWh to 214.2 million kWh.
The ministry said thermal power plants played a greater role in meeting consumer demand when solar and wind generation was low. Households, hospitals, schools and businesses require electricity around the clock.
Energy storage and infrastructure needed
The Energy Ministry said building more solar and wind power plants alone would not be sufficient to reduce natural gas consumption. Expanding electricity storage capacity, constructing new transmission networks and substations, and developing other reliable energy sources were also important.
Energy storage systems can retain surplus electricity generated during periods of strong solar production and feed it back into the grid when demand increases.
According to the ministry, solar and wind power plants help conserve natural gas and reduce harmful emissions. However, uninterrupted generation from these sources cannot be guaranteed anywhere in the world.
Thermal power plants therefore remain an important component of reliable electricity supplies.
