Voltalia commissions 126-MW Sarimay solar park, ramps testing in Uzbekistan

• Voltalia switched on the 126-MW Sarimay solar park in Uzbekistan and is preparing for commissioning tests before full commercial operations.

Voltalia has energized its 126-MW Sarimay solar park in Uzbekistan, marking another step in the country’s rapid build-out of clean generation. Initial power is now flowing as the project enters commissioning and performance testing, a phase that validates electrical protection, grid-code compliance, and production against expected yield before full commercial operations.

Sarimay’s design follows the proven template for bankable utility PV in continental climates: high-efficiency modules—often bifacial—on single-axis trackers to stretch output into morning and evening shoulders; DC/AC ratios tuned for annual yield; and plant-level controllers configured for reactive power support, frequency-watt response, and low/high-voltage ride-through in line with Uzbekistan’s grid requirements. String-level monitoring via unified SCADA allows rapid detection of underperforming blocks and tighter O&M.

For Uzbekistan, which boasts strong solar resource and growing power demand, utility-scale PV reduces reliance on imported fuel and dampens wholesale price volatility. Sarimay’s commissioning tests will include step-change responses, ramp-rate controls, and reactive set-point validation to ensure the plant behaves predictably during grid disturbances—critical in systems integrating more inverter-based resources.

Community integration features standard safeguards: construction traffic management, dust control on arid soils, drainage sized for intense rain events, and landscaping to soften views. Biodiversity measures—species-appropriate groundcover and habitat corridors—help stabilize soils and improve site ecology over the project life. Decommissioning provisions and recycling pathways for modules and balance-of-plant components are increasingly embedded in contracts and permits.

Commercially, Voltalia’s portfolio approach in Central Asia reduces execution risk. Standardized foundations and pre-engineered cabling minimize field change orders; bulk procurement of transformers and switchgear protects schedules from supply-chain hiccups. Once Sarimay clears performance testing, the focus shifts to first-year stabilization: thermal imaging campaigns, IV-curve tracing, and inverter set-point tuning that unlock incremental megawatt-hours and sharpen forecasts.

As Uzbekistan advances grid upgrades and market reforms, projects like Sarimay provide a reliable block of daytime generation that can later be paired with storage to shift energy into evening demand and provide fast frequency services. For now, the milestone is clear: electrons are flowing, tests are underway, and another utility-scale plant is joining the country’s clean-energy mix.