Experts Discuss Uzbekistan’s Sustainable Heating Vision and Heat Pump Market 

O'zbekcha Русский

TASHKENT, 31 October 2023 – The Agency for Strategic Reforms under the President of Uzbekistan, in collaboration with the World Bank, hosted a workshop involving government officials and local professionals representing various public and private organizations. The event participants were presented with international best practices in transitioning to sustainable heating and energy-efficient technologies, highlighting the potential applicability of heat pumps in Uzbekistan.

In response to economic and population growth, Uzbekistan's energy demand is set to surge in the years to come. Prioritizing energy efficiency and ramping up renewable energy align with the government’s goals to decarbonize the energy sector significantly reducing emissions, curbing demand, and lessening reliance on finite gas resources. Notably, the heating sector offers ample scope for efficiency and renewable energy integration.

During the workshop, experts from the World Bank, International Energy Agency, European Heat Pump Association, Arup Consulting, and industrial producers informed participants about the increasing use of heat pumps in sustainable heating in different parts of the world. Functioning akin to refrigerators or air conditioners, heat pumps draw heat from the air, ground, or water, boosting efficiency manifold. Certain models can offer both cooling and heating functions.

Amid Europe's decarbonization drive, heat pump sales surged by almost 40% in 2022, doubling in Belgium, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Heat pumps outperformed fossil fuel systems in the US and France. Forecasts predict a threefold sales increase by 2030, bolstering the global supply chain. By then, these pumps are expected to halve fossil fuel use in heating, reducing natural gas demand by 80 bcm and slashing CO2 emissions by 500 Mt.

During the workshop, it was noted that a wider introduction of heat pumps in Uzbekistan will result in curbing natural gas usage, delivering cleaner heating solutions, reducing air pollution, and meeting both heating and cooling demands.

However, obstacles persist, including outdated multi-apartment buildings, technical barriers in individual homes, high initial expenses, the prevalence of inexpensive natural gas, limited public awareness, and the absence of heat pump requirements in new residential and public buildings across the country. 

Participants were informed about the World Bank-supported activities helping the government develop Uzbekistan’s Sustainable Heating Strategy. It will assess the nation's potential for a wider introduction of sustainable heating technologies, including heat pumps, and will include a roadmap for their implementation in the buildings sector.

The workshop participants were briefed on international best practices for fostering a gradual shift to heat pumps through incentive programs and the enforcement of regulatory measures.

In the United Kingdom, the government announced plans to ban gas boilers in new buildings, alongside a grant scheme covering heat pump installation costs. They also launched the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive, a scheme providing consumers with quarterly cash payments for seven years. In Sweden, heat pumps have effectively replaced fossil fuels with renewable energy, tapping into shallow geothermal sources among others.

International and local heating industry experts delved into the heat pump manufacturing and equipment market, predominantly centered in East Asia, North America, and Europe. Acknowledging existing challenges in developing a local heat pump market, they offered insights on policies and initiatives enticing international heat pump companies to invest in Uzbekistan.

The workshop enabled an active exchange of ideas and knowledge sharing between international and local experts. The discussions provided valuable experience to inform Uzbekistan’s approach to transition to sustainable heating.