Uzbekistan making progress on green-energy power plan

A green-energy project in Uzbekistan to stabilize the country’s electricity distribution system has taken a major step toward launching before the end of 2024. 

The Podrobno.uz news outlet reports that the installation of a battery energy storage system (BESS) with a capacity of 150 MW/300 MWh has been completed in the Ferghana Region. Three Chinese entities, China Energy Overseas Investment Co. Ltd (CEEC), Huawei, and the Central South China Electric Power Institute (CSDI), are involved in the project. 

The facility, which is costing $140 million to build, is projected to help generate upwards of 2.2 billion Kilowatt hours of electricity annually. It is expected to begin operating in December. At present, the average Uzbek household consumes about 200 KWh per month. Thus, the Ferghana facility could ensure steadier supplies of electricity to roughly 900,000 Uzbek households every year. BESS systems are important for maximizing the efficiency of power generated by renewable sources, such as wind and solar, which fluctuate due to natural causes. 

Podrobno, a business-oriented Uzbek outlet, describes the project as a “key component of the large-scale energy strategy of Uzbekistan, implemented to eliminate the electricity deficit and support the country’s transition to a ‘green’ economy.” It also noted that the initiative is “evidence of the systematic implementation of agreements and international cooperation within the framework of [China’s] ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative.” 

Meanwhile, Novosti Uzbekistana reports that Chinese entities are prepared to invest in a variety of power plants, including a facility in the Tashkent Region with a power-generating capacity of 500 Megawatts, and two smaller hydroelectric facilities with a combined generating capacity of 45 MW. The publication did not provide any other details.

source:Eurasianet