Homegrown renewables giant Acwa Power broke ground on two solar plants in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with a combined capacity of 1 GW, according to a statement by the Uzbek government. The firm has also connected two 500 MW wind projects in Bukhara to the national grid, along with launching a 334 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Tashkent.
Acwa Power’s latest ventures in Uzbekistan have brought its 10-year green energy portfolio in the country to a total of USD 15 bn, with four projects — worth a combined USD 3 bn — already sealed, according to the statement.
ICYMI- Earlier in October, Acwa Power signed a joint development agreement with Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation to develop 2.5 GW worth of renewable energy projects and nearly 1 GW worth of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Uzbekistan valued at USD 4.2 bn. The first set of projects — the Sazagan 1 and 2 solar farms — are located in Samarkand, with each boasting a 500 MW capacity.
Tracing the USD trail: Acwa Power recently tapped the Opec Fund for International Development to help finance its two wind projects — a USD 658 mn 500 MW wind farm in Dzhankeldy and a USD 690 mn 500 MW wind plant in Bash — snapping up two USD 20 loans for the move.
About the wind farms: The developments include two transmission lines, one extending 128 km for Dzhankeldy and one 160 km long for Bash. The company signed 25-year power purchase agreements with the National Electrical Grid of Uzbekistan for both projects.