Uzbekistan: first solar power plant registered in the international I-REC system

In Uzbekistan, for the first time, a solar power facility was registered in the international certification system I-REC, which marked a new stage in the formation of a sustainable energy policy of the country. The 823 kilowatt solar power plant owned by Technopark LLC has become the first I-REC(E) certified solar power source in the country.

I-REC(E) (International Renewable Energy Certificate – Electricity) certificates confirm the origin of every thousand kilowatt-hours of energy from renewable sources and allow them to be used as a reporting tool within the ESG agenda. The availability of such certificates is critical for companies seeking to increase the sustainability of their operations, improve their investment attractiveness, and meet international environmental reporting standards.

At a round table held at the Institute of Macroeconomic and Regional Studies, the prospects for implementing a long-term low-carbon development strategy in Uzbekistan were discussed. Representatives of relevant ministries, international organizations and the private sector considered the possibility of using "green certificates" in the context of the upcoming entry into force of the EU cross-border carbon emission control Mechanism (CBAM), which provides for a carbon tax on products exported to Europe.

Registration of the solar station in the I-REC system became possible after the signing of an agreement between the Ministry of Economy and Finance and Technopark LLC. The presentation of the official certificate paved the way for the issuance of serial green energy certificates in the country.

As of today, four hydroelectric power plants of Uzbekhydroenergo Joint-stock company with a total capacity of 962.4 megawatts have already been registered in the I-REC system. Over the past year and a half, more than 344,000 I-REC certificates have been issued in Uzbekistan, which indicates a growing interest in green energy on the part of both producers and consumers.

The green certificate trading mechanism allows renewable energy operators to generate additional revenue, and companies to increase environmental transparency, demonstrate the use of clean energy, and reduce their carbon footprint. Moreover, in April of this year, Uzbekistan exported green energy certificates to foreign partners for the first time.

Among the companies already using I-REC(E) in Uzbekistan are leading industrial and financial institutions, including banks, tobacco companies, manufacturing and IT clusters. New potential consumers are data processing centers and textile enterprises that are increasing their exports and trying to meet the ESG requirements of foreign markets.

The introduction of international green energy certification allows Uzbekistan to strengthen its position as a sustainable energy partner in the global economy, reduce the carbon burden and stimulate the flow of investment in the field of "green" technologies.