Uzbekistan is making a significant leap in urban energy infrastructure by deploying cutting-edge systems that promise to slash energy consumption in half compared to traditional methods. The cornerstone of this shift is a trigeneration plant and the country’s first closed-type energy substation, both taking shape in New Tashkent as part of a strategic partnership with Chinese developer Haocheng Industry Group Limited.
How trigeneration transforms urban energy systems
The technology behind the project represents a fundamental rethinking of how cities manage energy. Unlike conventional approaches where heating and cooling systems operate independently, trigeneration merges these processes into a single unified chain. This integration allows the city to receive heating, cooling, and electricity simultaneously while consuming roughly half the energy required by traditional systems. For New Tashkent, the first phase will deliver 75 MW of heating capacity, 100 MW of cooling, and 17 MW of electricity generation.
Closed-type substation sets new standards
Complementing the trigeneration plant is a 100 MW closed-type substation — a first for Uzbekistan. This design innovation offers practical advantages that extend well beyond energy efficiency. Enclosed substations generate 50% less noise than their open-air counterparts and occupy approximately one-third the physical footprint. For a city with complex infrastructure requirements like New Tashkent, these space-saving benefits prove crucial to maintaining the urban design vision while accommodating modern energy demands.
The substation’s capacity of 100 MW is calibrated to satisfy the initial energy needs of the emerging city, with room for expansion as development accelerates.
New Tashkent’s broader construction momentum
These energy infrastructure projects operate within a larger urban development undertaking. The Sharq Bahori residential complex, spread across 95 hectares, is progressing rapidly with more than 18 million square meters of construction work already completed. The project will eventually deliver approximately 15,000 apartments using advanced materials that meet energy efficiency class A+ standards. New Tashkent’s first phase is designed to accommodate 600,000 residents, with long-term plans to grow the city to approximately 2 million inhabitants.
Public-private partnership framework in action
The energy infrastructure project exemplifies Uzbekistan’s approach to attracting foreign capital for strategic development. By structuring the initiative as a public-private partnership with Haocheng Industry Group, the country leverages Chinese technical expertise and investment while maintaining state involvement in essential utilities. This model reflects the regulatory environment that Uzbekistan is cultivating to draw international developers and investors into large-scale infrastructure initiatives.
Official oversight has emphasized the technical capabilities, economic viability, and strategic importance of these infrastructure objects, with recommendations focused on accelerating implementation and ensuring quality execution of subsequent phases.
What this means for international investors
For international companies in construction, energy infrastructure, urban development, and building systems, Uzbekistan’s New Tashkent project signals a market increasingly receptive to advanced technologies and foreign partnership. The deployment of trigeneration systems and closed-type substations demonstrates local appetite for modern energy-efficient solutions — technologies that international manufacturers and integrators can supply. The PPP framework also shows a willingness to structure long-term contracts with international players, reducing investment uncertainty. As the city scales to accommodate hundreds of thousands of residents, demand will expand across construction materials, HVAC systems, electrical infrastructure, and building automation solutions. The project’s emphasis on energy efficiency class A+ standards creates specifications that favor premium international manufacturers. Additionally, the successful completion of New Tashkent serves as a proof-of-concept that could influence urban development standards across Central Asia, potentially opening doors to multiple market opportunities in neighboring countries.
