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Uzbekistan to Launch Major Solar and Battery Project with ADB’s Support

Uzbekistan is set to launch the Samarkand 1 Solar PV and Battery Storage Project, a landmark initiative involving 500 MWh of storage and substantial solar capacity, enhancing the country’s energy infrastructure.

August 27, 2024. By EI News Network

Uzbekistan is set to make a significant leap in its renewable energy sector with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) proposing a major new initiative: the Samarkand 1 Solar PV and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Project. This ambitious project is expected to bolster the country’s energy infrastructure.

The Samarkand 1 Project will include the construction of two solar power plants with capacities of 100 MW and 400 MW, respectively. In addition to these plants, the project will feature a 500 MWh battery energy storage system and a 70 km overhead transmission line to connect the system to the national grid. This setup aims to improve the reliability and sustainability of Uzbekistan’s energy supply, marking one of the country's first large-scale renewable energy projects to include a BESS component.

The project is being developed by ACWA Power’s subsidiary, Sazagan Solar 1. ACWA Power, a Saudi Arabian energy firm, is playing a key role in expanding Uzbekistan's renewable energy capacity. This development follows the recent announcement of Uzbekistan’s first battery energy storage system in May 2024 and the successful connection of a 511 MW solar project earlier in the year.

Uzbekistan's energy policy is increasingly focused on fostering private sector investment in large-scale renewable projects. The government aims to boost the country’s solar capacity to 7 GW, up from the current cumulative installed capacity of 253 MW reported at the end of last year by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

In addition to the Samarkand 1 Project, ACWA Power has recently closed financing for a 200 MW solar plant with a 500 MWh BESS near Tashkent and has begun construction on the Beruniy Wind Independent Power Plant in Karakalpakstan. This wind project, which includes a 200 MW wind power plant and a 100 MW BESS, represents a USD 260 million investment. It is expected to generate 800 million kWh of clean energy annually, enough to power about 292,000 households, and will significantly reduce natural gas use and CO2 emissions.

Further supporting the renewable energy sector, Uzbekistan’s Technical Regulatory Agency recently signed a USD 1.7 million memorandum of understanding with ACWA Power. This agreement aims to enhance calibration services for measuring instruments used in renewable energy projects, particularly in the Republic of Karakalpakstan.

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Asian Development Bank

ADB

Sazagan Solar 1

Solar power in Uzbekistan