Uzbekistan to add 8 GW of wind, solar in 10 yrs

Uzbekistan aims to deploy 5 GW of solar and 3 GW of wind power capacity over the next 10 years, the country’s government said on Monday.

In an update to its renewables programme, the country’s Ministry of Energy said that it is currently selecting foreign direct investors to undertake these projects. Among the first developers that have already been picked to assist the country in its plan are Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power, Masdar and French oil and gas major Total (EPA:FP).

ACWA Power will install between 500 MW and 1,000 MW of wind power capacity under a deal unveiled earlier in March, while Masdar will build a 500-MW wind farm in Navoiy Region. Total Eren, meanwhile, will install a 100-MW solar photovoltaic (PV) park in the Samarkand region.

According to the government’s statement, Uzbekistan will soon open a tender for the construction of 1,000 MW of wind farms in Karakalpakstan and 1,000 MW of solar will be added through a programme aided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

"We are collaborating with blue-chip international institutions and welcoming an array of international companies who are excited to be investing in Uzbekistan,” said Alisher Sultanov, Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan has set a goal of producing 25% of its total power from renewables by 2030. The country recently launched a tender for the construction of 400 MW of solar parks in the Samarkand and Jizzakh regions. A tender for a 100-MW solar farm in the Navoiy region was previously won by Masdar.

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