Uzbek energy reform: policy implications for renewables and new regulations

. This article provides, according to the Uzbek energy reform and comparative analysis, policy implications for renewables and new regulations. The current condition of the use and application of renewable energy sources (RES) in Uzbekistan is analyzed using statistical data. The conditions for annual energy capacity, import and export of energy products, as well as the construction of the RES are analyzed within the framework of 14 administrative territorial units. The article provides a complete analysis of how the field of energy is regulated using state-acceptable regulatory legal acts. The main subject of research of the article is what benefits are provided in the legislation to individuals and legal entities that have established the use of the RES.


Introduction
RES as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels have gained significant momentum in the countries of the world.Some countries have made progress in the production of the RES.Iceland shows the most impressive result by standing at 86.87% of energy from renewable sources.Norway is closely monitoring 71.56%, and Sweden is monitoring 50.92%.However, comparing these countries, we see that Uzbekistan has a very low rate of renewable energy use.The proportion of the RES stands at only 2.65 percent of entire energy resources.It effectively communicates the idea that initiating steps to liberalize the energy sector and integrate modern technologies and the RES should commence in Uzbekistan.Liberalization of electricity markets in Europe was initiated by the UK (1989) and Norway (1991), and after Sweden (1994) and Finland (1996) [1].Uzbekistan, as a rapidly growing country of the Asian continent, has been using as many energy sources as possible.This in turn proves that the traditional model of "first developing and then treating pollution" must be transferred to a sustainable development trajectory [2].The acceleration of economic and demographic growth, in turn, caused negative consequences, such as further damage to the environment.An increase in CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is causing global climate change and environmental disasters, the formation of which is impossible as a result of the greenhouse effect [3].Research also shows that the use of renewable energy sources is much cheaper than using traditional energy sources: coal, oil [4].Due to environmental issues plaguing major cities in Uzbekistan and the pollution of the atmosphere, there's a growing consideration for new energy resources, creating need environment for the advancement and widespread adoption of the RES.In the final two months of 2023 alone, Tashkent found itself listed among the ten most polluted cities worldwide according to the World Health Organization's Air Pollution Rankings.The most important competent state bodies in regulating this area are adopting new regulations, and programs are under development.It is also important new stage in the utilization of the RES in the upcoming years by analyzing existing problems.In this regard, systematic reforms are underway in public administration.This article explores an important aspect of public policy and legal regulation concerning the use of the RES.The analysis primarily focuses on the norms of three legal acts: the law "On the Use of Renewable Energy Sources", the Presidential Decree "On Measures to Accelerate the Introduction of Renewable Energy Sources and Energy-Saving Technologies in 2023", "Uzbekistan-2023" Strategy and the "Renewable Energy Acts".The degree of effectiveness of the legislation obtained as the subject of analysis will be analyzed using the example of the Kashkadarya region, which is the Southern region of Uzbekistan.Kashkadarya Region is one of the regions of Uzbekistan, located in the south-eastern part of the country in the basin of the river Qashqadaryo and on the western slopes of the Pamir-Alay mountains.It borders with Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Samarqand Region, Bukhara Region and Surxondaryo Region.Area: 28,570 km², Population: 3.500 million (2023), Center: Qarshi, Cities: 12, Districts: 13, ISO 3166 code: UZ-QA When assessing the indicators of the use of the RES which are environmentally friendly sources, by authorized organizations, it was considered that the Kashkadarya region is the second largest region in the republic in terms of emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere (see Table 1).According to Table 1, at the time of 2011 to 2022, the Kashkadarya region is considered the most high-performing area that infects the atmosphere with harmful substances.In 2022 alone, the atmosphere was damaged with a total of 116 thousand tons of harmful substances.

Materials and Methods
When analyzing statistical data, it was observed that Uzbekistan's indicators for the utilization of renewable energy sources correctly aligned with a proportion of 2.65 percent upon analysis.Therefore, the remaining 97.35 percent remains untapped.Once utilized, its residue diminishes.Therefore, the issue of not over-spending the state's nonrenewable energy reserves, the use of its alternatives, has also become one of the main issues in Uzbekistan.And also, less than 40% of the citizens of Uzbekistan lives in cities.This means that almost 21.6 million of the 36 million population lives in non-urban areas, namely villages.About 1.5 thousand residents of hard-to-reach rural settlements cannot use traditional sources of electricity [5].In this regard, the use of promising plans and experiences of foreign countries was established as the main tasks.According to "Renewable energy Use Act", it defines the main directions of state policy in the field of renewable energy use, mechanisms for state support and promotion of the industry.As non-renewable energy sources, coal or other fuels can be obtained ready-made in nature.However, the impact of nature and weather is considered important for obtaining RES.This proves that wind power is only effective in an area where the wind blows moderately.Maintaining a stable and reliable power source is difficult due to this sporadic nature [6].
It follows that the application of renewable energy sources in Uzbekistan is considered a somewhat complex process.
From this, the legislation laid out a number of directions.For example, according to the law "On the use of renewable energy sources", the main directions of public policy in this area are: a) stabilizing the country's energy security, diversifying the part of the fuel and energy balance focused on the production of electricity, thermal energy and biogas using the RES; b) introducing innovative technologies, scientific and technical developments in the field of the RES, c) improving the energy efficiency of renewable energy installations, expanding their production and localization; d) attracting business entities which technological enhanced to create new possibilities in RES; e) promoting by government investors and manufacturers to invent new devices from the RES; f) developing the green energy certification system.In setting these tasks, Government has used the experience of the RES highly improved countries.Considering that the law was adopted in 2019, it can be said that it began a little late.By comparison, such tasks had been set before the government in Denmark since the 1990s, which is at the top of the renewable energy use ranking [1,7].In some countries, using of renewable energy has been a community choice, but in some European countries, the society has previously opposed such energy sources [8].The principal forms of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) encompass the following categories: Solar energy [9]: This pertains to the energy derived from technologies utilizing solar radiation.Solar energy technologies comprise: (1) photovoltaic solar systems; (2) active solar systems; and (3) bioclimatic design and passive solar systems.Additionally, in the world Wind Energy; Geothermal Energy, and Hydroelectric Energy are being used widely.However, according to the law "The renewable energy Use Act" does not consider exactly what types of energy sources are used in Uzbekistan, but rather the criteria for how much energy production capacity is.Article 14 of the act is entitled "Benefits and preferences in the field of renewable energy use".According to it, Renewable energy producers do not have to pay property taxes for installing renewable energy devices (with a minimal capacity of 0.1 mW or more).Also, they do not have to pay land taxes on plots occupied by these devices.The termination of this privilege is ten years.In addition, if the individuals living in residential areas completely disconnected from the existing energy systems use the RES, they will not pay property tax on individuals for three years from the month of using the RES.With the adaptation of presidential decree dated 11.09.2023PD-158 "On the strategy of Uzbekistan-2030" again established the prospects for the use of the RES.The 51 points of this decree are called: the transition to a "green economy", a sharp increase in the indicators of the use of renewable energy, which is its basis.The decree set specific targets for the use of renewable energy in Uzbekistan until 2030.For instance: 25,000 megawatts of renewable energy, as well as a 40% share in total consumption.
1. Development of the market of "green certificates"in the industry and the introduction of the practice of "environmental marking".2. Reducing natural gas consumption by modernizing 3 thermal power plants with a capacity of 3 GVt.3. Implementation of the energy efficiency (energoaudit)assessment system of apartments in apartment buildings.4. Transfer of public transport in cities to environmentally friendly fuel. 5. Creation of a monitoring system (MRV) covering all greenhouse gases in the field of climate change.6.A 30% reduction in greenhouse gas GDP per unit of GDP from 2010 levels.

Results and Discussion
In accordance with the above legislation, we analyzed the established benefits and mechanisms for the use and regulation of the RES in Uzbekistan.Now, we will analyze the current implementation of these legal norms in the context of Kashqadaryo region as an example.Until October 12, 2023, information was gathered from the ministries and authorities in the Kashqadaryo region regarding the status of the enforcement and analysis of the Law on the Use of the RES in collaboration with the Parliamentary Committee on Industry, Construction, and Trade Affairs and the Committee on Ecology and Environmental Protection.It was noted that significant work is being carried out in Uzbekistan to support the widespread introduction of renewable energy sources by the state in order to increase energy efficiency, ensure energy security and increase investment attractiveness in the energy sector in the republic.To regulate legal relations in this field, a series of legislative documents have been adopted.Specifically, the Law on the Use of Renewable Energy Sources delineates the main directions of the state's policy regarding the utilization of the RES and outlines mechanisms for state support and desire.Furthermore, the "Uzbekistan 2030" strategy transition to a "Green Economy" has set ambitious goals and tasks aimed at significantly increasing indicators related to the use of the RES, which serve as a cornerstone in the strategy.As part of the monitoring and analysis efforts conducted by committees in the Kashqadaryo region, consultations were held with the local population, and a study was conducted on the status of renewable energy installations in residential buildings, social facilities, and business enterprises.It is worth noting that within the framework of the targeted programs aimed at the utilization of the RES, a number of activities have been implemented in the Kashqadaryo region in 2023.According to the findings of the monitoring and analysis event, it was identified that there is a shortage in the production capacity of electricity in the Kashqadaryo region, and as a result of the increasing consumption from year to year, a deficit of 291 million kWh of electricity and 45 million cubic meters of natural gas is expected during the winter period.In the region, a total of 733 social facilities and state institutions have been designated for the installation of 7.4 MW solar panels and 8.3 thousand liters of solar collectors for water heating.Currently, 11.6 MW solar panels and 62 thousand liters of solar collectors for water heating have been installed in 584 facilities.Additionally, power from 38.7 MW solar panels has been designated for installation in residential and industrial buildings, with 8.7 MW solar panels already installed across 833 facilities.If we calculate the amount of energy spent per capita in the past years in the region, then if these projects are implemented, about half of this amount will be provided by renewable energy sources (Table 2).

Table 1 .
Emitted into the atmosphere of pollutants (thousand tons)