Opinion: Uzbekistan’s Winds of Change – A Blueprint for Renewable Energy Transformation in Central Asia

For much of its post-Soviet history, Uzbekistan’s energy system has been defined by natural gas. Its abundant domestic reserves provide a cheap and reliable source of electricity generation, export revenues, and industrial growth. However, this reliance has come at a cost, including vulnerability to fossil fuel volatility, carbon emissions inconsistent with global climate commitments, and an energy profile increasingly at odds with international investment trends. Today, a new landscape is emerging in Uzbekistan’s energy sector. The vast steppes and desert plateaus of the Karakalpakstan and Navoi regions have emerged as some of the most promising areas for wind turbines and energy sector development. This transformation could redefine not only Uzbekistan’s energy security but also the regional energy map of Central Asia. A Decade in the Making: From Pilot to Pioneer This story begins in 2020, when the United Arab Emirates’ renewable energy developer Masdar signed an agreement to construct the Zarafshan Wind Farm in the Navoi region. Initially, this was not a pilot project, as its proposed capacity was about 500 MW, making it the largest wind project among the Central Asian countries at the time. Its symbolism pulsed with an energy no less powerful than the current itself. For Uzbekistan, which had no operating commercial wind capacity, the project marked a significant shift from concept to execution. The Zarafshan Wind Farm reached financial close in 2020, commenced construction in 2022, and was officially inaugurated in December 2024 by Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Developer reports describe it as one of the largest operational wind farms in Central Asia. It represented a step forward toward sustainability and a message of resolve for energy resilience. In a region where fossil fuels still dominate, Uzbekistan has positioned itself as a regional leader in large-scale wind energy production.. Scaling Beyond Zarafshan: Kungrad and Nukus The breakthrough at the Zarafshan Wind Farm signaled the dawn of a larger journey. Subsequently, Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power, a giant in renewable energy, agreed to set up the Kungrad Wind IPP. This project includes a transformative complex of three 500 MW wind farms with a total capacity of 1.5 GW of power generation. According to project plans, it will also be accompanied by a 300 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) and roughly 1,450 kilometers of new transmission infrastructure. This single project surpasses Uzbekistan’s earlier renewable efforts and, when completed, will represent one of the most significant clean energy undertakings in the region. Similarly, the Nukus II wind farm-plus-storage project, which secured financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other partners in mid-2025, seeks to expand renewable energy use, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen energy security. It includes building and operating a 200 MW wind power plant, a 100 MWh battery storage system, a 44 km transmission line, and an upgrade of the 220 kV Beruniy substation. This integration of renewables with flexible storage represents a new phase of Uzbekistan’s energy transition, one where renewables are not simply added to the grid...