BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 27. Uzbekistan plans
to increase the total capacity of its wind power plants to more
than 10 gigawatts (GW) by 2030, strengthening wind energy’s role in
the country’s renewable power mix.


This was reflected in the statement by the Ministry of Energy of
Uzbekistan.


According to the Ministry, wind power plants in Uzbekistan can
operate at full capacity for an average of 3,200 hours per year,
compared with about 2,300 hours for solar power plants, according
to Uzbek energy authorities.


This means a 1-megawatt (MW) wind power plant could generate
about 1.4 times more electricity annually than a solar plant of the
same capacity under the stated operating conditions.


The higher utilization potential is expected to make wind power
an increasingly important component of Uzbekistan’s renewable
energy portfolio as the country brings new projects online and
diversifies its electricity generation mix.


Uzbekistan’s wind power sector has expanded rapidly in recent
years. Six utility-scale wind power plants with a combined capacity
of 1,672 MW were operational as of July 2026, according to the
country’s Committee for Industrial, Radiation and Nuclear Safety.
Between January and July, utility-scale solar and wind plants
together generated 7.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity.


The government is planning a further substantial expansion.
Uzbekistan’s Energy Ministry has said wind power capacity is
expected to reach 12 GW by 2030, with new projects planned in
Karakalpakstan and the Navoi, Bukhara, Jizzakh and Samarkand
regions. Solar capacity is targeted at at least 7 GW over the same
period.







One of the projects underpinning the expansion is the 500 MW
Zarafshan Wind Power Plant in the Navoi region, developed with
support from the Asian Development Bank. The project was designed
to help meet rising electricity demand and diversify Uzbekistan’s
energy mix.


Other projects are also moving forward. In May 2026, ACWA
Power signed $226 million in financing agreements for the 300
MW Bash II wind farm in Bukhara region. The project is expected to
begin commercial operations in the second half of 2027 and supply
electricity to more than 336,000 households.


According to Trend’s calculations, the current 1,672 MW of
installed utility-scale wind capacity represents about 14% of the
12 GW target for 2030, leaving roughly 10.3 GW of additional
capacity to be developed. If the full 12 GW target is achieved,
Uzbekistan’s wind capacity would be about 7.2 times its current
level.


At the stated operating-hour assumptions, 1 GW of wind capacity
could generate about 3.2 TWh annually, compared with 2.3 TWh for 1
GW of solar capacity. At 12 GW, wind facilities could theoretically
generate about 38.4 TWh per year at 3,200 full-load hours, although
actual generation would depend on wind conditions, plant
availability and grid dispatch.


This expansion is taking place alongside broader upgrades to
Uzbekistan’s power system. The country plans to raise total
installed generation capacity to 46.1 GW by 2030 and is also
developing new substations, battery storage and nearly 5,000
kilometers of transmission lines to accommodate additional
generation.