ACWA Power has started full commercial operations of two wind power projects in Uzbekistan. The company announced that the Bash and Dzhankeldy wind farms are now generating electricity. These projects together supply 1 gigawatt (GW) of installed capacity.
The wind farms are located in the Bukhara region. The Dzhankeldy project has a capacity of 500 megawatts (MW), and the Bash wind farm also has 500MW. Both projects were developed as a joint venture between ACWA Power and China Southern Power Grid International (HK) Co., Ltd.
The projects began full operations earlier than expected. According to ACWA Power, this was achieved almost two months ahead of schedule.
The Bash and Dzhankeldy wind farms are part of Uzbekistan’s plan to add more renewable energy to its electricity mix. The electricity generated from these wind farms will be supplied to the national grid. These facilities are expected to power more than 1 million homes combined.
Apart from this 1GW portfolio, other smaller renewable energy projects are taking shape in Uzbekistan. For example, the Nur Navoi solar plant is already operational with 100MW capacity. It was one of the country’s first utility-scale solar facilities. Another solar project in the Surkhandarya region has been proposed, with 40MW capacity, aiming to serve local industries.
In addition, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy has announced a plan to develop off-grid solar solutions for remote villages. These systems will include solar panels combined with battery storage and are being tested in the Karakalpakstan region.
The country is also evaluating the use of floating solar panels on irrigation reservoirs, especially in the southern regions, although these projects are still in early feasibility stages. Uzbekistan has set a target to reach 25 percent renewable energy in its total electricity generation by 2030.
