Uzbekistan Expands Solar Capacity with 2,508 MW Installed

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan installed small-scale solar panels with a total capacity of 2,508 MW between 2023 and 2026, generating 4.715 billion kWh of electricity, saving 1.271 billion cubic meters of natural gas, and preventing 2.711 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan.

The expansion of renewable energy generation has been supported by regulatory mechanisms designed to provide financial returns for power producers. Under Presidential Decree No. UP-220 dated 9 September 2022, support measures were established for low-capacity renewable installations in households, commercial entities, and social facilities. Additionally, Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 247 dated 14 June 2023 permitted individuals and businesses to sell surplus electricity generated by solar, wind, and biogas installations up to 1 MW back into the national power grid.

Through the "Solar Home" (Solnechny Dom) program, individual citizens receive 1,000 soums per kWh of surplus electricity fed into the grid. Between 2023 and 2025, total payments disbursed to individuals and legal entities for grid-fed electricity reached 462.1 billion soums, with households receiving 222.9 billion soums and commercial entities receiving 239.3 billion soums.

Disbursements accelerated sharply during the first seven months of 2026. From January to July 2026, payments reached 632.7 billion soums, with 436.7 billion soums paid to households and 196 billion soums to commercial entities. Of the funds allocated to businesses, 48 billion soums was applied toward offsetting existing electricity bill debts. Disbursements across the seven-month period represented 137 percent of the total amount paid during the entire 2023–2025 period.

By the end of 2026, total disbursements for the year are projected to reach 725.6 billion soums, including 506.2 billion soums to the population and 219.3 billion soums to businesses. Cumulative payouts to households and enterprises from 2023 through 2026 are expected to reach 1.1877 trillion soums.

Regional data for January to July 2026 shows that Bukhara region recorded the highest payouts to households under the "Solar Home" program at 81 billion soums, followed by Khorezm region at 79.7 billion soums, Karakalpakstan at 51.6 billion soums, Kashkadarya region at 49.1 billion soums, and Navoi region at 34 billion soums.

Solar adoption spans multiple sectors across the country. Social facilities and government institutions have installed 478.8 MW of solar panels and 2,821.8 thousand liters of solar water heaters. Household installations stand at 664.5 MW of solar panels and 2,122 thousand liters of solar water heaters. Commercial enterprises have deployed 1,330.9 MW of solar panels, while installations on multi-apartment residential buildings reached 36.4 MW.

Capacity expansion continued into 2026, with over 509.78 MW of new solar panels commissioned between the start of the year and 13 August 2026. Total new capacity additions for 2026 are planned to reach 700 MW—exceeding the annual target by 300 MW and representing 175 percent of the initial plan. Maintaining this trajectory is expected to bring Uzbekistan's total small-scale solar capacity to 2,700 MW by the end of 2026.

Electricity production targets for 2026 call for small solar installations to generate 2.143 billion kWh. Between January and June 2026, generation reached 1.4031 billion kWh, fulfilling 65.5 percent of the annual plan, with an additional 739.9 million kWh targeted for the second half of the year. The Ministry of Energy projects that total solar generation from 2023 through 2026 could reach 5.0379 billion kWh.

Renewable energy deployment is also being utilized as a social support mechanism. Under corporate social responsibility initiatives linked to investment projects, solar panels are being installed free of charge in social institutions, low-income households, and mahallas. Completed installations cover 1,411 households (3,331.86 kW), 120 social facilities (3,157.5 kW), and 21 mahallas (4,200 kW).

Further social solar installations are scheduled across multiple regions. In Karakalpakstan, plans call for installing 1,500 kW across 101 social facilities, 1,872.12 kW across 837 households, and 5,200 kW across 26 mahallas. In Bukhara region, installations will cover 1,178.95 kW across 198 social facilities and 1,000 kW across five mahallas. Syrdarya region is slated for 1,026.21 kW across 149 social facilities and 447.3 kW across 205 households. Tashkent region will receive 81.54 kW across five social facilities and 99.44 kW across 44 households. Navoi region plans include 500 kW across 39 social facilities, 265.02 kW across 120 households, and 1,200 kW across six mahallas. Samarkand region will see 1,000 kW across 75 social facilities, 310.2 kW across 141 households, and 1,600 kW across eight mahallas.

The regulatory framework for the sector continues to evolve under Law No. ZRU-939 "On Electricity" dated 7 August 2024, Cabinet of Ministers Resolutions No. 13 dated 8 January 2024 and No. 528 dated 24 August 2024, and Presidential Decree No. UP-152 dated 29 August 2025. The Ministry of Energy noted that these regulatory measures are aimed at fostering market-based electricity sector development, expanding private investment and competition, increasing sector efficiency, and protecting consumer rights.