Uzbekistan inaugurates first utility-scale 100MW solar energy plant

• Uzbekistan's Energy Ministry introduced on August 27 the inauguration event for the nation's first utility-scale solar plant-- and the first successfully-financed independent power producer (IPP) solar project in the Navoi area.

Uzbekistan teamed up on the landmark project with Masdar, a subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company and one of the world's leading renewable energy firms, the Uzbek Energy Ministry claimed, keeping in mind that Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended the occasion to commemorate the 100 MW, Nur Navoi Solar (PV) Project.

The solar photovoltaic or pv plant, Uzbekistan's initial utility-scale solar project, is a landmark achievement, and is promptly adding to Uzbekistan's renewable resource base. When totally functional, it will generate adequate power for 31,000 homes and save 160,000 tonnes of CO2 exhausts yearly.

" In the next five years, we prepare to boost our economy's development rate by 1.5 times, and bring GDP to at least $100 billion," Mirziyoyev said. "Hundreds of brand-new commercial enterprises, both medium and huge will be launched, and power demand is readied to reach 100 billion kilowatt-hours-- 30 billion greater than now. For that reason, we have huge prepare for new reforms and projects in the electric power sector. In the next 5 years, 19 projects worth $6.5 billion will be launched to create 11,500 MW of brand-new capability," he added.

Uzbekistan's Energy Minister Alisher Sultanov said his country has been functioning very closely with the IFIs to open up the nation's power market to personal investment and to help the Central Eastern nation reach its goal of 25% of energy consumption deriving from sustainable sources by 2030. "We have a significant variety of projects underway, and currently finished. It is my wonderful enjoyment to update audiences on our development. Uzbekistan is dedicated to plan goals to boost energy effectiveness and rise renewable resource's share of the country's energy mix," Sultanov stated.

Earlier this month, Sultanov, shared the nation's plans to update its existing renewable energy targets even higher. Previous targets expected an increase in payments to 3 GW for wind and 5 GW for solar power plants by 2030, as Uzbekistan intends to fulfill 25% of its power requirement by means of renewable energy sources.

Such is Uzbekistan's rapid eco-friendly progression-- it plans to boost those targets to 7 GW for solar and 5 GW for wind power.

" Uzbekistan is delighted to be functioning carefully with Masdar. Whilst Nur Navoi is the first Masdar project to begin operations in the nation, cooperation advances numerous other solar and wind projects," the Uzbek Energy Ministry said.

These include development arrangements for:

• 2 PV projects for 440 MW incorporated capacity, situated in the Samarkand and Jizzakh regions, and expected to start in Q1 2023
• A 457 MW photovoltaic or pv solar energy plant in the Sherabad district of the Surkhandarya province
• A 500 MW wind farm in Zarafshan district of Navoi area

Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi called this is a historical occasion for Uzbekistan and a honored moment for everyone at Masdar as we take this important step in Uzbekistan's clean-energy journey. The Nur Navoi Solar Project will certainly play a substantial function in Uzbekistan's energy shift and in attaining its environment modification purposes, he stated.

"I am delighted to be right here personally to witness history planned, and I look forward to continuing our extremely effective cooperation with the Government of Uzbekistan, via our solid portfolio of wind and solar projects with an overall capability of around 2.5 GW in the country, an essential calculated financial investment destination for Masdar," Al Ramahi said.

Various other dignitaries participating in the event on August 27 were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade Sardor Umurzakov and UAE Ambassador to Uzbekistan Saeed Matar Al-Qemzi.

At the ceremony, it was also kept in mind that education and learning and training are crucial components of Uzbekistan's lasting economic advancement, with a thousand brand-new highly-qualified professionals in renewable energy needed, the Uzbek Energy Ministry stated, adding that, for this function, a center for advanced training and re-training in the field of counter-energy will certainly be established in Navoi in 2022.