ACWA Power, the Saudi Arabian energy company, has been roped in by the Government of Uzbekistan to develop large scale solar energy projects with a combined capacity of 1.4 GW, along with 3 energy storage systems having 1.2 GW capacity in the Asian nation for an investment worth $2.5 billion.
Plans include commissioning a 1 GW solar PV plant and 400 MW energy storage system in Samarkand, another 400 MW solar PV plant and 400 MW energy storage system in Tashkent region, and a standalone 400 MW energy storage system in Bukhara region.
Construction on the Tashkent project was launched during the agreements signed between ACWA Power, Uzbekistan's Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade and the National Electric Grids of Uzbekistan Joint Stock company.
The 400 MW Tashkent PV project is estimated to generate 900 million kWh of electricity annually to help save 257 million cubic meters of natural gas, according to the Uzbek ministry. Altogether, the 2.6 GW new energy capacity ACWA Power will build in Uzbekistan is expected to provide electricity to 1.2 million households.
Uzbekistan is counted as one of the world's largest natural gas producers, with China, Russia and Kazakhstan as its main export destinations. However, it is now focused on diversifying and realizing the potential of various energy sources in the country.
Uzbekistan targets to achieve 35% of renewable energy share in the national energy mix by 2030 which will come from 15 GW total capacity divided between 10 GW solar and 5 GW wind energy projects. The share of solar is higher than 7 GW solar it wanted to add earlier.
Among foreign companies that Uzbekistan is eying to help achieve this goal are CEEC Energy China that will build 2 GW PV capacity in Kashkadarya, Bukhara and Samarkand regions, while Huaneng Renewables and Poly Technologies will invest in adding another 2 GW solar in Jizzakha and Tashkent regions (see Chinese Companies Strike Deals For 4 GW Uzbek PV).
Another Chinese company Jiangxi LDK Solar has proposed to establish a large-scale solar panel manufacturing fab in Uzbekistan's Fergana municipality (see Chinese Company Planning Uzbek Solar Panel Fab).