Masdar, a renewable energy company in Abu Dhabi, unveiled the 100-megawatt Nur Navoi solar power plant in Uzbekistan. This is Uzbekistan's first project based on an independent power producer model.

Masdar said that once the plant is put into operation, it will power 31,000 homes and offset 150,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year. This development is in line with the Central Asian country’s plan to start its renewable energy plan by investing US$6.5 billion to add 11,500 megawatts of new capacity in the next five years.

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said: “In the next five years, we plan to increase the economic growth rate by 1.5 times and bring GDP] to at least US$100 billion.” “Thousands of companies will be launched. For large and medium-sized industrial enterprises, the power demand will reach 100 billion kilowatt-hours, an increase of 30 billion kilowatt-hours from the current level."

Renewable energy becomes a hot spot for investment

Uzbekistan has become a hot spot for investment in renewable energy by major participants in the Middle East. Uzbekistan’s goal is to deploy 5 gigawatts of solar power and 3 gigawatts of wind power capacity by 2030, because it aims to generate 25% of its electricity demand from renewable energy sources.

Masdar, a subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company, currently operates in more than 30 countries with a total investment of approximately US$19.9 billion. It has won several tenders to provide clean energy in Uzbekistan, including another solar project in the Sherabad region of Uzbekistan's Surkandaria province, a 457-megawatt photovoltaic power plant.

In 2020, Masdar announced the financial closure of the 100 MW Nur Navoi solar project. The Abu Dhabi company also reached an agreement to develop, construct and operate a 500 MW wind farm in Zaraf Mountain. In April 2021, the company signed an agreement with the Uzbekistan government to expand the capacity of the project to 1.5 GW, making it the largest project in Central Asia.

"Renewable energy will bring a cleaner and more sustainable future to Uzbekistan and enable it to contribute to global action against climate change," said Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar .

Keywords: overseas engineering, international engineering construction, foreign engineering construction news

"This project, as well as other solar and wind energy projects that Masdar is building in Uzbekistan, will also provide impetus for a new phase of industrial growth and provide useful careers for thousands of Uzbeks." Special Envoy for Climate Change and Uzbekistan Stan Minister Dr. Al Jaber said.Editor/XuNing