The agreement represents Uzbekistan’s strategic measure to power 25% of the country with clean energy
The Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), a leading clean energy developer and operator, has signed a joint development agreement (JDA) with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade for the development of over 2gigawatts (gw) of solar and wind projects, and 500megawatt-hours (mwh) of battery energy storage at different sites across Uzbekistan.
The agreement reflects the mutual trust between Uzbekistan and Masdar, as well as the importance that the Central Asian nation places on achieving a 25% energy contribution from renewables by 2030. Uzbekistan plans to achieve 7gw of solar and 5gw of wind capacity by the end of the decade.
HE Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Chairman of Masdar, and COP28 President-Designate, said: “The UAE is fully committed to supporting countries to decarbonize. Uzbekistan is a key strategic partner, and we continue to work together to deliver renewable energy projects that power homes and businesses, while crucially cutting emissions. The world needs to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030 to reach the goals set out in the Paris Agreement. As we prepare to host COP28 in the UAE, we believe ambitious partnerships with countries like Uzbekistan are vital in helping to meet this target.”
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, said: “We are making history together in Uzbekistan. Our agreement to develop 2gw of solar and expand into 500mwh of battery storage, marks an exciting new chapter in Masdar and Uzbekistan’s shared journey. Uzbekistan is a key partner and Masdar is proud to support its ambitious renewable energy goals.”
Masdar’s growing portfolio in Uzbekistan includes the largest wind farm in Central Asia, the 500mw capacity Zarafshan plant. Additionally, Masdar reached financial close on three solar projects in Jizzakh, Samarkand and Sherabad, which have a combined capacity of around 900 megawatts, making it the largest solar development program in Central Asia. Once fully operational, the projects will generate enough electricity to power over one million homes, while displacing around one million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
Masdar has been active in Uzbekistan since 2019, operationalising the 100mw Nur Navoi Solar Project, which is the nation’s first successfully financed independent power producer solar project, and has been operational since 2021.
Source: constructionweekonline
