Uzbekistan installs photovoltaic power plants,solar collectors

/By AzerNews/

By Vusala Abbasova

Uzbekistan is keen on providing alternative sources of energy in a range of facilities in the Fergana Valley.

The Scientific and Innovation Center Eco-energy has been installing photovoltaic power plants and solar collectors from September 7, the Uzdaily.uz website reported.

These power plants are being placed around such facilities as the educational institutions of Andijan region, the State Committee in Namangan, and a nursing home and boarding school in the Fergana Valley.

These measures are implemented as part of a regional program on environmental protection and the rational use of natural and biological resources for 2015.

The Scientific and Innovation Center Eco-energy was created under the Uzbekistan State Committee on Nature Protection in October 2005 in order to carry out a range of activities related to providing the country with alternative energy.

The Center has already made great achievements with the construction of 500 and 100-watt energy plants.

The Center also developed models of individual biogas equipment and a small hydropower plant capable of being used in small basins without any additional devices.

However, one of the greatest reasons for the implementation of such projects is the net positive effect on the economy.

Specialists assess hydropower production capacity potential at upwards of 88.5bln of kilowatt per hour, but only 25 percent of this capacity is currently being used, according to the Uzbekistan Today website.

The full realization of Uzbekistan’s hydropower potential will allow the country to satisfy its rising energy demands for the next 10-15 years.

Currently, there are about 20 companies operating in the local energy saving market today.

The majority of companies engaged in this sector specialize mostly in procurement and the installation of equipment.

Uzbekistan's potential for renewable energy sources amounts to about 51 billion tons of oil equivalent.

The country's hydropower potential alone is equal to roughly 9.2 million tons of oil equivalent, while the potential of solar energy, with 300 sunny days per year, stands at 50.973 billion tons, wind potential at 2.2 million tons, and geothermal waters at 0.2 million tons of oil equivalent.