Uzbek households earn nearly UZS 74 billion from solar energy sales in Q1

Uzbekistan’s domestic solar energy sector has seen an unprecedented surge in growth during the first three months of 2026. According to the Tax Committee, 45,200 citizens received subsidies for supplying excess electricity generated by residential solar panels to the national grid between January and March.

Photo: KUN.UZ

The scale of the "Solar House" program has expanded dramatically compared to the same period in 2025, with the number of subsidy recipients increasing 3.5 times. The momentum peaked in March, which saw the highest monthly participation rate with 44,700 people receiving payments. Financial disbursements under the program for the first quarter totaled UZS 73.98 billion, representing a ninefold increase over the previous year's figures.

Bukhara region emerged as the national leader in terms of total payouts, accounting for UZS 16.53 billion, or 22.3% of the country's total volume. Khorezm region followed in second place with UZS 13.29 billion, notably overtaking Bukhara in the month of March alone with UZS 9.37 billion in earnings. The top five regions were rounded out by Kashkadarya with UZS 9.1 billion, the Republic of Karakalpakstan with UZS 7.63 billion, and Navoi region with UZS 5.97 billion.

Bukhara also recorded the most significant year-on-year growth, with subsidies increasing by a factor of 23.8. Other regions demonstrating rapid advancement included Kashkadarya and Samarkand, where payouts grew by 18.9 times and 12.5 times respectively.

The "Solar House" initiative was first announced by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in February 2023 to incentivize renewable energy adoption. Under the current system, citizens are paid UZS 1,000 for every 1 kWh of solar electricity delivered to the public grid that exceeds their own household consumption. This financial incentive was bolstered in August 2024 by a presidential directive to exempt solar panel components from import duties and VAT, a move designed to lower installation costs and foster fair competition between local manufacturers and importers.

In 2025, a total of 45,300 individuals participated in the program throughout the entire year, receiving UZS 209.2 billion. The current trajectory suggests that 2026 will likely shatter those records as more households transition to green energy solutions.