ADB proposes major renewable energy project for Uzbekistan: 500 MW Solar and BESS initiative

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has proposed a major new initiative to advance Uzbekistan’s renewable energy sector. The Samarkand Solar Photovoltaic and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project will include a 500-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic plant, a 500-megawatt-hour (MWh) battery storage system, a transmission line, and other critical infrastructure.

Led by ACWA Power, this project marks one of the first utility-scale renewable energy ventures in Uzbekistan to incorporate a BESS component. It supports Uzbekistan’s ambitious target to expand its renewable energy capacity to 12 gigawatts (GW). The project is expected to set new standards for bankability and attract further private investment into the country’s energy sector.

In a related development, ADB and Masdar have secured a $46.5 million loan agreement to fund the construction of the Nur Bukhara solar power plant, which will also feature a battery energy storage system. The financing package includes $26.5 million from ADB’s ordinary capital resources and $20 million from the Leading Asia’s Private Infrastructure Fund, managed by ADB.

The Nur Bukhara project will have a generation capacity of 250 MW and a storage capacity of 126 MWh. It will also involve building a 20-kilovolt substation and a 3.1-kilometer transmission line to connect the facility to the grid.