Uzbekistan to put online 100-MW solar park in 2016 - report

Aug 27, 2014 - Uzbekistan will put on stream a 100-MW solar park at the end of 2016, which will be the first one in the country, newspaper Pravda Vostoka said earlier this week.

The 100-MW scheme, owned by state-run Uzbekenergo, is being financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan. According to preliminary estimates, it is to require an investment of over USD 275 million (EUR 208.5m).

Construction of the plant in the eastern region of Samarkand has already been initiated. Once completed, the Samarkand solar farm is expected to generate about 200 million kWh each year.

The solar scheme will help Uzbekistan cope with power outages, diversify its energy mix and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. At present, the country sources almost 90% of its total electricity from fossil fuels. At the same time, its solar power potential is estimated to be equal to 50.9 billion tonnes of oil equivalent. The local government aims at a renewables share of 21% in Uzbekistan total energy use by 2031.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.758)

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