Project update:Masdar connects 1.4 GW of its renewables projects in Uzbekistan to the grid: UAE renewables developer Masdar completed the connection of four of its solar and wind power farms totalling 1.4 GW to Uzbekistan’s electricity grid on Thursday, Wam reports. The grid connection ceremony was attended by Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, and the UAE’s Ambassador to the Central Asian country Saeed AlQemzi.

The details: Masdar will deliver the clean power to Uzbekistan’s power grid from its 500 MW Zarafshan wind farm and from three solar projects in the Jizzakh, Samarkand, and Sherabad regions of the country with a combined capacity of 900 MW.

ALSO- Masdar signed more green agreements with the Central Asian country: On the sidelines of the grid connection ceremony,the UAE renewables giant signed an implementation agreement with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy and its Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade, to develop an additional 2 GW of wind energy projects, as well as expand its storage capacity to 1.15 GWh — up from the previous 500 MWh plan set in May, Wam reports. The storage projects will be spread across five existing Masdar projects in the country. The new agreement brings Masdar’s total Uzbekistan investments to approximately USD 4 bn.

All in line with Uzbekistan’s green energy targets: The Uzbekistan government’s long-term strategy to diversify its energy mix targets 8 GW of solar and 12 GW of wind capacity by 2026 and 2030, respectively. The country is developing solar and wind power plants with a capacity of 5.5 GW.

REMEMBER- Masdar has been making moves in the country: The UAE firm actively contributed to Uzbekistan’s first 100 MW IPP solar project Nur Navoi (pdf), which has been in operation since 2021. The company was also awarded the 250 MW Bukhara Solar PV project last April, and was awarded the tender for the 300 MW Guzar Solar PV project which boasts a 75 MWh storage capacity, Wam notes.

N OTHER MASDAR NEWS- The company is eying expansion in Georgia: Masdar signed a preliminary agreement with the Georgian Energy Development Fund to establish a joint venture company aimed at developing the country’s largest solar power plant, according to a separate statement. If finalized, the 100 MW project would mark the UAE company’s first utility scale project in Georgia. Masdar is currently in talks with Georgia’s government on the solar farm, and is expected to ink an MoU to launch the venture’s feasibility studies “in the near future”, the company said without providing a specific timeline, Solar Quarter notes.

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