What is a large-scale solar PV project in Uzbekistan?

Large-scale solar PV projects have been subject to competitive bidding processes in Uzbekistan since 2019 and an awarded project can sign a long-term contract with NEGU at a fixed tariff, as noted above. The government of Uzbekistan also aims to develop small- and medium-scale solar projects.

Can floating solar PV increase solar PV capacity in Uzbekistan?

For comparison, the area of the hydropower reservoirs are more than 15 times the size of the world’s largest solar park in India, which has an installed capacity of 2.25 GW. In this regard, the potential of floating solar PV on the hydropower reservoirs is a realistic opportunity to further increase solar PV capacity in Uzbekistan.

Can variable solar power be used in Uzbekistan?

variable solar electricity benefits from the local flexibility provided by dispatchable, highly flexible hydropower, thus limiting impacts on the power system. There are currently 25 reservoirs in Uzbekistan, with a total water surface of 1 500 km 2, 4 of which are hydropower reservoirs totalling 890 km 2 (CAWater, 2021).

How is Uzbekistan achieving its solar power target?

Uzbekistan has made a positive effort toward that end, including by setting clear targets and reforming the energy sector and has been progressing toward achieving the solar power capacity target of 4 GW by 2026 and 5 GW by 2030.

Do fossil fuel subsidies affect electricity prices in Uzbekistan?

Such subsidies have significantly decreased in Uzbekistan in recent years, from USD 9.0 billion in 2018 to USD 3.8 billion in 2020, but they still amount to 6.6% of total GDP in Uzbekistan (IEA, 2021c). As the power mix in Uzbekistan is dominated by natural gas, fossil fuel subsidies are also reflected in electricity prices. IEA. Licence: CC BY 4.0

How has solar PV capacity changed over the last decade?

Over the last decade, solar PV capacity has significantly increased globally owing to the sharp decline in price, amounting to more than 600 GW total installations in 2019. The more solar PV is deployed globally, the more end-of-life solar panels will be disposed of in a couple of decades.