Uzbekistan’s 500 MW Solar Power Auction Concludes

• Uzbekistan has auctioned its 500 MW AC solar tender, launched under Scaling Solar initiative, to 3 winning bidders
• Masdar will build the country's 1^st solar and storage project with 250 MW PV AC and 62 MW storage capacity
• GD Power-Powerchina won 150 MW AC capacity for $0.04828 per kWh and Voltalia 100 MW AC for $0.02888 per kWh

Uzbekistan's Ministry of Energy has concluded a 500 MW AC solar PV tender, launched under the International Finance Corporation (IFC) managed Scaling Solar program of the World Bank, picking Abu Dhabi's Masdar, France's Voltalia, and Chinese consortium of GD Power and Powerchina as the 3 winners.

Masdar has won the largest of the lot, a 250 MW Ac solar plant in Bukhara region, for $0.03044 per kWh winning tariff. It will be accompanied by a 62 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) which will be the country's 1^st solar plant with storage component.

According to the IFC, Masdar will supply the storage capacity of 63 MW at $16.5 per MWh.

This is Masdar's 5^th overall solar tender win in Uzbekistan and its 4^th Scaling Solar victory in the country after having won 100 MW for $0.027 per kWh, 220 MW for $0.0182 per kWh and another 220 MW for $0.0179 per kWh. It also won the 457 MW Sherabad tender for $0.018 per kWh (see Masdar Wins Uzbek's Sherabad Solar Power Auction).

The other winning duo from China, GD Power-Powerchina, won rights to develop 150 MW AC PV project in Namangan region for $0.04828 per kWh, while Voltalia secured 100 MW AC in Khorezm region by bidding $0.02888 per kWh.

Winners of this tender beat 8 other contenders who were pre-qualified for the round in July 2022 and out of which the IFC says 9 sent in their bids (see Uzbekistan's RFP Round For 500 MW AC PV).

All 3 winners will design, finance, build, operate and maintain the PV plants that are part of Uzbekistan's renewable energy strategy to deploy up to 15 GW capacity by 2030.

"These new solar parks, which will help Uzbekistan reduce its dependence on natural gas and counter climate change, are a testament to the continued commitment and forward thinking of the Uzbek government, especially as the world navigates an energy crisis," said IFC's Regional Manager and Head for PPP Transaction Advisory, Muneer Ferozie.