TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 2. Transitioning to a low-carbon economy can help Uzbekistan achieve energy security through increased energy efficiency and homegrown renewables, latest Uzbekistan Country Climate and Development report by the World Bank says, Trend reports.
Citing the Bank, increasing energy efficiency and domestic renewables will be cost-effective and secure Uzbekistan's economic growth.
“Projections suggest that Uzbekistan's economy will grow at a rate of more than 4 percent each year, with population increase of 1.5 percent, resulting in high demand for energy and power. Energy demand in Uzbekistan increases by more than 200 percent and electricity demand increases by more than 400 percent in the Net Zero 2060 reference scenario by 2060,” the Bank’s analysts note.
WB emphasizes that in the NZ2060 scenario, increases in energy efficiency and a shift to more efficient technologies will reduce energy demand by up to 160 percent.
"Because the net zero system is based on electrification and green hydrogen, the size of Uzbekistan's power sector could more than double by 2060 compared to the reference scenario. In general, the technologies available to achieve net zero are more limited in Uzbekistan than in other countries due to natural gas and bio-energy availability for blue hydrogen production, transportation, and residential heating," the reports says.