Masdar backs more investments in Uzbekistan as first renewables projects are connected to grid
Uzbekistan and Masdar have agreed to develop another 2GW of wind power, with a upscaled battery storage system
Masdar, a green energy powerhouse from the United Arab Emirates, has seen its recent investments in Uzbekistan bear fruit with the connection of 1.4GW of renewables capacity to the national grid there, and more wind projects are in the pipeline.
Existing projects connected to the grid this week include the Zarafshan wind farm and three solar projects located in Jizzakh, Samarkand and Sherabad, Masdar said in a statement released today (Thursday).
In May, Masdar and Uzbekistan signed an agreement to develop 2GW of renewable energy projects and 500MWh of battery energy storage.
At a grid connection ceremony attended by Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi and Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the parties signed the implementation agreement for this additional 2GW in wind capacity.
Under the same agreement, the battery storage component was increased to 1,150MWh, to be deployed across the Nur Navoi, Sherabad, Samarkand and Jizzakh solar projects, as well as at Zarafshan.
This will bring Masdar’s total investment in Uzbekistan to approximately $4bn, according to the company's statement.
Uzbekistan is targeting 7 GW of solar and 5 GW of wind capacity by the end of this decade.
Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber, chairman of Masdar, as well as UAE minister of industry and advanced technology said the recent climate summit in the UAE had seen the world coming together to set a target of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030.
"That means delivering projects at a scale greater than we ever reached before. These ambitious projects will be an essential contribution to that shared goal, as we partner with Uzbekistan to support its clean energy objectives and strengthen the already powerful bond between our two nations," Al-Jaber stated.
Masdar has been active in Uzbekistan since the 2019 when it agreed to develop the nation’s first independent power producer solar project, the 100MW Nur Navoi facility, which became operational in 2021.
One year ago, Masdar was also awarded Uzbekistan’s Bukhara Solar PV project, with a 250MW solar capacity and a 126MWh battery energy storage system.
In June this year, Masdar was awarded the Guzar Solar PV project with a capacity of 300MW and 75MWh storage capacity.
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