Today, climate change, atmospheric pollution, and other pressing environmental issues demand immediate action. It is reported that one of such actions is the complete transition to using electricity generated from renewable sources — to "green energy".
Greenhouse gas emissions will decrease
In cities with high population density (for example, Tashkent), air pollution significantly affects public health. Transitioning from gas to electricity improves public health by reducing respiratory diseases.
Electricity generated from renewable sources — utilizing solar, wind, and hydroelectric power — helps reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane emissions. For example, in the production of electricity through solar panels or wind turbines during the operational phase, carbon emissions are virtually non-existent.
Fact!
• When burning natural gas, approximately 2.75 kg of CO₂ is emitted per cubic meter of gas. This process also releases a small amount of methane, a greenhouse gas 25-28 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), reducing the use of fossil fuels is one of the key steps to achieving carbon neutrality by mid-century.
Air quality improves
Gas boilers and furnaces emit NOₓ, worsening the air quality around residential areas. This contributes to the formation of smog and acid rain, negatively affecting human health. Abandoning gas use reduces emissions of harmful substances like nitrogen oxides (NOₓ). Because electric heaters and heat pumps do not emit NOₓ or other toxic compounds, this is particularly important for improving air quality in homes and cities.
Fact!
• The process of cooking with a gas stove burns approximately 0.2-0.3 cubic meters of natural gas per hour, resulting in 0.4-0.6 kg of CO₂ emissions. An electric oven, on the other hand, consumes an average of 2-3 kWh per hour of energy (from renewable sources) with virtually no harmful emissions (less than 0.05 kg of CO₂ per hour).
The danger of methane is eliminated
Strong greenhouse gas — methane is released during the extraction and transport of natural gas. Monitoring methane leaks is challenging and significantly increases the negative impact of carbon. Using electricity, especially from renewable sources, eliminates this risk entirely.
Energy efficiency is increased
Modern electric devices (such as induction stoves, heat pumps) are more efficient compared to gas, thereby reducing overall energy consumption.
Note: Induction stoves reduce energy loss and have an efficiency of approximately 85-90%, while gas stoves have an efficiency of about 60%.
Heat pumps (air, water) consume less energy compared to traditional gas systems. For example, the energy conversion efficiency of such pumps can reach 300-400%.
Preventing the emission of 6.5 million tons of harmful gases into the atmosphere
The factors mentioned above, in general, are moving the world towards stable ecological conditions, reducing environmental pollution, mitigating the adverse effects of climate change, and solving other urgent problems by fully transitioning to "green energy". Specifically, Uzbekistan aims to increase the share of renewable energy sources in production to 54 percent by 2030, construct additional "green powers" with a capacity of 19,000 MW, and plans to launch 18 solar and wind power plants with a capacity of 3400 MW and an energy storage system with a capacity of 1800 MW. These measures are expected to increase the production volume of "green energy" to 12 billion kWh.This equals the annual consumption of 5 million households, preventing the emission of 6.5 million tons of harmful gases into the atmosphere.
Currently, 8 government-private partnership projects on developing solar energy potential are being implemented, producing 4.3 billion kWh (1.6 GW) worth $1.3 billion.
In total, by 2025, our country plans to produce 84 billion kWh of electricity, which is 25 billion kWh or 1.5 times more than in 2016.
"It is necessary to gradually abandon gas stoves"
Studies conducted in the United States of America have shown that gas stoves can cause various diseases. Specifically, 2023 studies found that gas stoves in nearly 40% of US households were responsible for 12.7% of children's asthma cases in the country, i.e., 650,000 children. Moreover, when a gas stove is ignited and operates at full power, it emits several pollutants into the air.
According to "The Guardian", harmful substances emitted from gas stoves cause the death of 40,000 Europeans each year, twice the number of deaths from road accidents. Research conducted in European Union and Great Britain households shows that using a gas stove shortens a person's life by an average of two years. Based on these and other studies, the European Health Alliance has called for all countries to impose restrictions on gas stoves and gradually phase them out.
