Current state and prospects of solar energy in the Republic of Uzbekistan

At the present time, a time of rapid technological change, when there is a constant increase in the demand for electricity from the population and economies of countries, energy supply is one of the priority tasks for the dynamic economy of any country, and solving this problem can undoubtedly create the prerequisites for sustainable economic growth.

From year to year, the cost of energy resources increases due to the depletion of their reserves, if they are oil and natural gas, and their unsustainable use leads to increased problems of environmental pollution.

One of the actively promoted directions of the state policy of Uzbekistan is improvement of energy efficiency of industries through wide implementation of energy-saving technologies and RES (renewable energy sources). The energy complex of Uzbekistan plays the most important role in the economy of the country and is a strategic sector, so its innovative development and diversification are of particular importance. In Uzbekistan, under the existing conditions of energy consumption, accelerated industrialization and population growth (the needs of the economic sectors in energy resources may significantly increase and the opportunities for use of the limited hydrocarbon resources may become narrower.

Uzbekistan laid the foundation for the development of "solar energy" in the 1980s by creating the RPA (Research and Production Association) "Physics-Sun" at the Physical-Technical Institute (PTI) of the Academy of Sciences. The RPA includes a 1 MW solar furnace with a helioconcentrator, which allows to reach a temperature of about 3 thousand degrees and ensures the production of ultrapure materials, conducting scientific research and thermal tests.

Further impetus was given to the RPA "Physics-Sun" after the establishment, together with the Asian Development Bank, of the International Solar Energy Institute in October 2013, which should promote and develop modern solar energy technologies and ensure Uzbekistan's role as a leader and hub of knowledge in the field of solar energy in the region [1].

Along with the scientific potential, Uzbekistan has an impressive untapped reserves of alternative energy sources, significantly exceeding the resources of fossil fuels. The main components of RES in Uzbekistan are solar, wind, hydropower, and biomass energy. According to assessments, the total renewable energy potential of Uzbekistan is 117.9 Btoe, its technical potential is 179.3 Mtoe. The main share of this potential is solar energy, its total potential is 51 Btoe, and its technical potential is 177 Mtoe. The technical potential of solar energy is almost four times higher than the consumption of primary energy in the country [2].

Along with the scientific potential, Uzbekistan has an impressive untapped reserves of alternative energy sources, significantly exceeding the resources of fossil fuels. The main components of RES in Uzbekistan are solar, wind, hydropower, and biomass energy. According to assessments, the total renewable energy potential of Uzbekistan is 117.9 Btoe, its technical potential is 179.3 Mtoe. The main share of this potential is solar energy, its total potential is 51 Btoe, and its technical potential is 177 Mtoe. The technical potential of solar energy is almost four times higher than the consumption of primary energy in the country [2].

Also, analysis of long-term data showed that the duration of sunny hours per year in different regions ranges from 2410 to 3090, with fluctuations during the day depending on the season of 11 hours in summer and 4 hours in winter. In terms of the number of sunny days, Uzbekistan surpasses southern Spain, where solar energy has a significant development. Only one-third of the year can be considered a cold season, with low levels of solar radiation. The rest of the year is characterized by high levels of solar insolation. The potential of depositing radiation on the territory of Uzbekistan is significant and exceeds the energy potential of all the explored reserves of the country.

Solar insolation is a value determining the amount of irradiation of a surface by a beam of sunlight (even reflected or scattered by clouds).

According to approximate calculations of experts, if current trends and consumption volumes continue, by 2030 the deficit of energy resources may reach 65.4 percent of the total demand. According to the forecast of the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan, the annual increase of electricity consumption by 6-7% in 2030 will increase by 75%, from 69 billion kWh up to 121 billion kWh, and one of the main directions of its implementation is the development of energy resources through increased use of alternative energy sources. At the same time, the population's demand for electricity could be 21.9 billion kWh, and agriculture - 25.3 billion kWh per year [3].

Recent years have been pivotal for Uzbekistan, especially in the field of further stimulating the development and expansion of the use of RES in the economy of the country, as evidenced by the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On the use of renewable energy sources" adopted in April 2019.

In addition, the Government of Uzbekistan approved the "Concept note for ensuring electricity supply in Uzbekistan in 2020-2030", where one of the main objectives in providing the republic with electricity is identified: development and expansion of renewables use and their integration into the unified power system.

According to the concept, in 2020-2030 special attention will be paid to development of generation based on RES, especially solar energy. These projects will be implemented solely at the expense of investors - independent producers of electricity, based on PPP (Public-Private Partnership). In order to achieve the indicators of development of renewable energy the target parameters of annually commissioned capacities of RES facilities in 2020-2030, providing for the construction of 3 GW of wind and 5 GW of solar power plants have been defined [4].

Solar PV (photovoltaic) plants with capacities ranging from 100 to 500 MW shall be focused mainly in Central and Southern regions (Djizzak, Samarkand, Bukhara, Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya regions). However, 50-200MW (Fergana Valley) solar PV plants shall also be constructed in other regions of the country. To this end, large solar PV plants (with overall capacity of over 300MW) shall be gradually equipped with industrial scale power storage systems to ensure stabilization of intermittent generation and regulate peak loads.

The country's first 100 MW solar power plant has already been commissioned in Navoi region. By 2030, it is planned to build about 25 more stations of this kind [5].

The above confirms that Uzbekistan is already a leader in the use and development of RES in Central Asia, and will become a driving force in the region in the near future. Commissioning of the planned facilities will allow the country to become a net exporter of electricity to the neighboring countries Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, and to be integrated into a unified energy network as part of the regional CASA 1000 project (a new high-voltage power transmission system connecting four countries in Central and South Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan).

At the same time, such ambitious plans can be implemented with the availability of modern power transmission capacity, namely construction and modernization of 110-500 kV high-voltage lines and substations, which will also require significant capital investments.

Moreover, ensuring the sustainability of RES development will require a transition from quantity to quality, namely further development of fundamental and applied research in the field of RES, training of highly qualified personnel, creation of own production facilities for the production of solar panels, concentrators, inverters, wind generators, and separately an entire industry to operate and maintain the existing PV plants and wind farms. These issues may appear challenging in the near future and investors involved in RES projects in Uzbekistan are expected to pay attention to them.

 

The sources used:

1. «Солнечный Узбекистан»: как Узбекистан пытается развивать альтернативные источники энергии. URL: https://www.caa-network.org/archives/7061
2. Малая возобновляемая энергетика в призме зарубежного опыта. URL: https://review.uz/post/malaya-vozobnovlyaemaya-energetika
3. Шадиметов К. Инновационное развитие биоэнергетики Узбекистана. — 30 с. / [Электронный ресурс]. — Режим доступа: URL: https://minenergy.uz/uploads/6bf5acea-12db-f746-1807-9469253e0fd9_media_.pdf
4. Концепция обеспечения Республики Узбекистан электрической энергией на 2020-2030 годы – [Электронный ресурс]. – Режим доступа: https://minenergy.uz/uploads/1a28427c-cf47-415e-da5c-47d2c7564095_media_.pdf
5. Перспективы увеличения доли солнечной энергии в общем энергетическом балансе Республики Узбекистан – [Электронный ресурс]. – Режим доступа: https://unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/SPECA/documents/kdb/2019/Moscow_event/day_1_statement_HAYDAROV_Uzbekistan.pdf