Uzbekistan rapidly expands renewable energy capacity — IRENA

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan is demonstrating one of the fastest rates of renewable energy development in Central Asia.

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) report “Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026”, the country’s total installed capacity of renewable energy sources reached 10,027 megawatts by the end of 2025. By comparison, this figure stood at just 1,883 megawatts in 2016, representing more than a fivefold increase over less than a decade.

Solar photovoltaic generation has been the main driver of this expansion. In 2016, installed solar capacity in the country was slightly above 2 megawatts, while by the end of 2025 it had surged to 5,934 megawatts.

As a result, solar power now accounts for more than half of Uzbekistan’s total installed renewable energy capacity. This rapid growth has been made possible by large-scale construction of utility-scale solar parks, implemented in recent years with participation from foreign investors and international financial institutions.

Wind energy, which was virtually absent from Uzbekistan’s energy mix in the past, has also begun to expand. Installed wind capacity increased from a symbolic 1 megawatt in the 2016–2022 period to 501 megawatts in 2023 and further to 1,652 megawatts in 2025. This reflects a clear shift toward diversification of renewable sources beyond solar power alone.

Hydropower has traditionally formed the backbone of Uzbekistan’s renewable generation, although its relative share is gradually declining as solar and wind capacities expand. Installed hydropower capacity reached 2,441 megawatts in 2025, compared with 1,880 megawatts in 2016, indicating moderate growth compared with other technologies.

The share of renewables in Uzbekistan’s total installed electricity capacity rose from 13.3% in 2016 to 36.1% in 2025. This highlights a structural transformation in the energy sector, as the country moves from minimal renewable penetration toward a system where more than one-third of capacity is based on clean energy sources.

The report notes that the most rapid acceleration occurred over the past three years. Between 2022 and 2025, renewable capacity increased almost fourfold, from 2,429 megawatts to 10,027 megawatts, reflecting a decisive shift in national energy policy and a sharp rise in investment activity in the sector.

At the global level, IRENA reports that total installed renewable energy capacity reached 5,149 gigawatts by the end of 2025, increasing by 15.5% year-on-year — the highest growth rate on record. Renewables accounted for 85.6% of all new power capacity additions worldwide and reached 49% of total global installed capacity.

In 2025 alone, 692 gigawatts of new renewable capacity were added globally. Solar energy contributed around three-quarters of this growth, setting a record annual increase of 510 gigawatts, while wind energy added 159 gigawatts.

However, the report also highlights persistent geographic disparities. China, the United States, and the European Union together accounted for 550 gigawatts, or 79.5% of all new renewable capacity added in 2025. In contrast, Africa accounted for just 11.3 gigawatts, or 1.6% of global additions.

Africa nevertheless recorded a regional growth record, with total renewable capacity rising by 15.9% to 82 gigawatts, driven mainly by Ethiopia, South Africa, and Egypt. The Middle East posted even stronger growth of 28.9%, largely due to developments in Saudi Arabia.

Commenting on the findings, IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera said that renewable energy continues to demonstrate stable and resilient growth amid global uncertainty, reflecting market preferences and strengthening energy security through more decentralized systems.