Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Today, on 4 March 2023, Saudi Arabian company "ACWA Power", Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan and joint stock company "National Electricity Networks of Uzbekistan" signed investment and purchase agreements.

The agreements envisage the commissioning of two solar photovoltaic power plants with a total capacity of 1400 MW in Tashkent and Samarkand regions and three energy storage systems with a total capacity of 1200 MW in Tashkent, Bukhara and Samarkand regions.

Two solar photovoltaic power plants with a total capacity of 1400 MW and energy storage systems with a capacity of 800 MW will be built in Tashkent and Samarkand regions.

A 400 MW energy storage system will also be built in Bukhara region.

The total investment in energy projects by ACWA Power to date amounts to US$7.5 billion.

The agreements envisage commissioning of a solar photovoltaic plant with capacity of 400 megawatt and energy storage system with 400 megawatt in Tashkent region, a solar photovoltaic plant with capacity of 1000 megawatt and energy storage system with 400 megawatt in Samarkand region as well as energy storage system with 400 megawatt in Bukhara region. The projects also include the construction of high voltage transmission lines.

During the event, the construction of a large solar photovoltaic plant with a capacity of 400 MW in Tashkent region was launched. This power plant will produce 900 million kWh of electricity per year as a result of its commissioning. As a result, 257 million cubic metres of natural gas will be saved and 360 thousand tonnes of harmful gases will be prevented from emitting into the atmosphere.

It is worth noting that by 2030, 35% of electricity in our republic must be generated from renewable energy sources. As a result, 15 000 MW of capacity will be put into operation - 10 000 MW of solar power plants and 5 000 MW of wind power plants.

At present in Uzbekistan, ACWA Power is implementing projects on the construction of 5 power plants with total capacity of 4,100 MW, in particular, 4 wind power plants with a capacity of 2,600 MW and 1 modern thermal power plant with capacity of 1,500 MW. It should be noted that the modern thermal power plant with 1500 MW capacity being constructed by the company in Syrdarya region will be put into operation this year.

The project to introduce energy storage systems in Uzbekistan will be the largest storage system in the region, which will play an important role in stabilising the energy system and developing renewable energy sources in the country.

Energy storage systems prevent unstable renewable energy sources from affecting the grid. They can be used to store surplus electricity during production and use the stored energy during periods of low production.

When commissioned, these projects can provide electricity to 1.2 million households in the country and prevent the emission of about 1.6 million tonnes of harmful gases per year.

Investment agreements were signed between the Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan and ACWA Power, and power purchase agreements between Uzbek National Power Grid JSC and ACWA Power.

During the visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in August 2022, ACWA Power signed an investment cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade, which provides for the introduction of investment of 10 billion dollars over the next five years.

The projects, to be implemented in Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara regions, will attract investments of US$2.5 billion to the amount of US$10 billion. Recently, an agreement was signed with the company to implement a green hydrogen project in the country.