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1. Institutional related to unstable political situation, risks of local and interethnic conflicts, high
level of corruption, underdeveloped public administration system (education, health care, judicial and
executive bodies, etc.).
2. Infrastructural industry, energy, communications, transport, logistics, etc.. In this article we will
consider one of the components of infrastructure problems of global importance for all mankind the
problem of energy
The main problem of traditional sources of energy resources at the moment is their limited
quantity. And since the demands of mankind in this respect are growing, mankind may soon face a
structural energy crisis.
The Republic of Uzbekistan, along with many other developing countries, is facing a shortage
of energy resources. The crisis of the energy system is caused by many factors, in particular, the
deterioration of the
old Soviet-era energy systems, which are characterised by significant energy
losses during transmission, mass breakdowns and emergency shutdowns In addition, over the last
thirty years there has been insufficient commissioning of new generating capacities to replace those
that have become obsolete and have reached the end of their useful lives At the same time, rapid
population growth and chaotic development put additional pressure on the power supply system and
provoke frequent power outages.
Considering Uzbekistan's energy security in the long term, the following challenges that need
to be addressed can be identified:
✓
A comprehensive analysis of the existing power system;
✓
improving the energy efficiency of existing systems;
✓
reducing losses in
energy production and transit;
✓
diversification of energy sources and rational introduction of renewable energy
sources:
Over the last 6 years, new generating capacities of more than 5,000 MW have been created in
Uzbekistan. At the same time, it is expected that by the end of 2023 the shortage of electricity will
amount to 3.4 billion kWh. The problems of energy deficit, makes the expansion of energy potential
and rational use of energy a key challenge The economic consequences of the energy crisis faced by
Uzbekistan show how important energy sovereignty of individual countries and regions is. The
energy security of a state depends on the diversification of its sources of origin. This is why
investment in technologies based on energy from renewable sources is so important. The energy
deficit situation can undoubtedly have a negative impact on the pace of industrial development, on
attractinginvestments and on the whole economy Renewable energy sources (RES) are one of the
sources of increasing energy generation In recent years, there has been
a clear trend in the global
energy market towards renewable energy sources. Renewable energy sources are becoming
increasingly popular, especially in highly developed countries.
The term green energy refers to energy derived from renewable sources.
Green energy is a set of renewable natural resources from which electricity and heat are
produced Renewable energy sources can include wind, sunlight, water, geothermal sources, sea
waves, sea currents and tides, biomass, biogas and bigsureny Renewable energy sources are
characterised by the fact that they are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed.
Today, in the conditions of Uzbekistan, the most efficient sources of energy are: wind, sun
and water.
Dynamic economic growth is directly linked to increasing demand for the energy needed to
power both the industrial and service sectors. From widely understood industrial production,
agriculture and processing, and various services such as transport, to powering household appliances
and
equipment, each of these areas consumes thousands of megawatts of electricity.
The main reasons for the growing popularity of green energy can be highlighted:
✓
the problem of climate change,
✓
increasing prices for fossil fuels, natural gas and oil, and well depletion,
✓
Improving technologies for the extraction and processing of renewable energy sources;
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✓
reducing the cost of installing equipment for renewable energy extraction;
✓
support from governmental and international organisations for the extraction
✓
and processing of renewable energy sources;
✓
public interest in renewable energy sources, methods of their extraction and reducing
the impact of carbon footprint on nature and climatic conditions of the planet.
Let's take a closer look at the types of renewable green energy sources.
Solar power.
It is currently the most commonly used form of renewable energy Solar energy is produced
by photovoltaic installations and solar collectors. The former receive heat from the sun and then
convert it into electricity, while the latter convert it into hear energy used for various household or
industrial needs.
Wind power. Wind farms, consisting of efficient turbines and devices that generate electricity,
are also an important area of green energy Wind turbines convert kinetic
energy into electricity
Renewable energy production using wind farms is most favourable in regions with high windiness.
Water power. Water power is generated using natural inland watercourses. Hydropower is
mainly related to rivers with sufficiently strong currents or large gradients. Electricity is generated in
hydroelectric power plants, using special turbines that convert mechanical energy into electrical
energy.
Each of the green energy trends has its own positive and negative aspects. On the plus side,
green energy utilises natural resources that can be regenerated or are barely depleted. They do not
pollute the environment and have little or no impact on the nature and biodiversity of the region, as
well as slowing down the impact on climate change
Also, the relatively less complex design of RES plants compared to traditional sources of
energy generation, such as thermal power plants, can be put on the plus side. The disadvantages of
RES include that alternative or renewable energy sources are not as sustainable and stable in terms
of electricity generation. The operation of green energy sources depends on many different factors.
Some experts believe that solar renewable energy sources, including solar panels. wind turbines are
one of the terrific elements of green technology. While others call wind turbines, for example, too
noisy, overly bulky, or dangerous to biodiversity Because, the potential amount of green energy waste
is frightening. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) predicts that 600,000 tonnes of
old solar panels will be accumulated by 2025 IRENA expects the number of used solar panels to
reach "8 million tonnes by 2050. In Europe, up to 300.000 tonnes per year of decommissioned wind
turbine blades could be accumulated over the next two decades, according
to trade association Wind
Europe.
In addition to the issue of utilisation, the situation with the low capacity of solar panels at 220
W m2 and their high prices is also relevant In particular, from the economic point of view, for
consumers represented by citizens, at the existing prices in the county, it is more favourable to make
a deposit in a bank than to install expensive RES In Uzbekistan, the payback: period of solar panels
is about 3-9 years,which is due to low electricity tariffs. For comparison, in developed countries the
payback period does not exceed 3 years.
In addition, in order to maintain maximum power, the panels themselves need to be constantly
cleaned of dust and dirt, either with special equipment or with a certain amount of water. There is
also the issue of water shortage. In addition, at the moment there is no developed service and in cases
of improper use of panels, in case of their breakage, repair of the equipment will be a difficult task.
But the most important disadvantage of green energy today is the inability to provide generation in a
stable mode, as RES energy generation is subject to cyclical fluctuations depending on weather
conditions, which forces to provide a reserve in the form of spare energy sources,
which in turn
increases the unit cost of production, and makes RES energy generation unprofitable. Based on the
above, it can be concluded that from an economic point of view, in Uzbekistan in the foreseeable
future, green energy will not be able to replace traditional sources of energy generation, and can be
used only in a limited format, in the most favourable climatic regions of the country.
