This is a research paper that explores the socio-economic and ethical issues of the renewable energy transition in Uzbekistan. This paper analyzes how the current investment plans can be aligned with sustainable development and energy justice in the country as the country shifts its century-old dependence on natural gas to a diversified Green Economy by 2030. The mixed-method study is employed. A quantitative analysis of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and renewable capacity (2019–2025) quantitative data is performed and a qualitative assessment of the framework of the green economy strategy is made to identify the ethical gaps in energy distribution. It has been revealed that Uzbekistan has obtained over 3 billion of green foreign direct investment (FDI) and initiated colossal solar projects in Navoi and Samarkand (World Bank, 2025). Nevertheless, there is an evident "implementation gap" in rural household integration. From an economic point of view, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are very profitable. But ethically, there is a danger of the dualism of energy between the industrial centers and the distant places. The findings indicate that to ensure that the transition is accessible to all policymakers should include decentralized prosumer incentives (such as Net Metering) to utility-scale projects. A successful transition will be required to reduce the energy crisis during winter, which will make the life of people easier and reduce the carbon footprint per capita in Central Asia (IRENA, 2025).
Publication Date: 2026-06-23