In response to progress in Uzbekistan's energy and climate agenda, the Uzbek-German Energy Dialogue has broadened and deepened its areas of cooperation in 2023. Key areas of focus include green education and capacity building, the development of a concept for gas-free cities for urban electrification, and the institutional framework for energy-efficient renovation of residential buildings in Uzbekistan. 

Uzbekistan is committed to transitioning its economy towards a more sustainable future in the coming decades. This will involve reducing the energy intensity of the economy and switching to renewable energy sources, which will create new opportunities for economic development and benefit the country's population. However, to ensure long-term energy security and sustainability, the entire energy sector will need to evolve, and the demand for skilled labour in green technologies will continue to grow. By 2030 Uzbekistan will need to create up to 150,000 jobs to facilitate its green transformation. This is a significant challenge that requires international support.  

In 2023, the Uzbek Ministry of Energy approached dena and the Uzbek-German Energy Dialogue with an initiative for cooperation in the field of green education and capacity building. This led to the idea of establishing a training centre in Uzbekistan in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency. 

Dena’s task was to develop a concept for such a centre within the framework of the Uzbek-German Energy Dialogue. The centre should serve as a beacon for Uzbekistan's green transformation and provide tailored, market-driven training, drawing on the expertise of the German energy sector. The training centre is expected to achieve long-term financial self-sustainability upon completion of the development project.  

The concept development started with research and data collection on the (technical) vocational and academic education sector in Uzbekistan, considering energy policy challenges, target groups, and required green skills. Best practices and experiences from other training centres were then evaluated, such as the German Energy Academy in Jordan. A concept for the training centre in Uzbekistan was subsequently developed. This includes institutional anchoring in the Uzbek educational landscape, the development of modular courses and certifications, involvement of German and Uzbek companies, and financing options for the establishment and operation.  

The development plan was carried out in close communication with the Uzbek Ministry of Energy to ensure maximum focus on the needs of the partner. As a result, at the final stage of concept development, the Ministry suggested that the centre should be considered as part of a comprehensive plan for the Academy of Energy. This is a government project aimed at capacity building in the field of green skills, which is due to start in 2024.