Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A pilot project to ensure the electricity consumption of a territorial site is now being implemented at the Karshi training ground.

It is planned to completely transfer the provision of electric power to the SEG Oil and Gas Training Site in Karshi to renewable energy sources. In particular, we are talking about the production of electrical energy from sunlight. To date, the installation of 44 solar panels has been completed, which together will generate up to 8 kW of electrical energy. This amount will be enough to consume all the equipment of the Training Ground, which is used as part of the educational process of new employees of the company.

In the future, after summing up the results of the pilot project, it is planned to make a decision on equipping the company’s territorially remote oil and gas fields with solar panels. To date, the number of such objects is more than 15 units, in addition, all remote objects are planned to be fully automated with the output of parameters to the upper level using the ASODU system. Thus, some of the fields will become energy-independent from such natural factors as gusts of wind and sandstorms, after which the supply of electricity is often disrupted due to damage to overhead lines.

“Uzbekistan is one of the sunniest countries in the world, and it would not be a logical decision to ignore this fact in terms of providing electricity. We chose the Karshi training ground as a site for the pilot project not by chance. The entire educational process takes place during the day, when the generation is at its peak stage. This allows us not to use the peak power of batteries to ensure the operation of the landfill. It is planned to conduct full-scale pilot tests of a solar power plant at the test site, perform a range of measurements and determine the applicability thresholds for such stations at SEG production sites.

If we are talking about providing electricity to remote sites of the company, then there are two ways before us. The first is to use associated petroleum gas for generation. The second is precisely the energy of sunlight. I note that the relatively low cost of solar panels is offset by the cost of restoring electricity due to natural factors, when the operation of overhead lines is disrupted. Thus, coupled with the use of solar power plants, we ensure round-the-clock and trouble-free operation of any of the company’s fields as part of the state program to improve the efficiency of oil production,” says Sergey Ryabov, Chief Engineer of SEG.

Commissioning of the solar station at the training ground is scheduled to begin in October this year. Further activities for the transition to renewable energy sources at the sites will be carried out by the company in early 2023.