Masdar, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, has signed a Battery Storage Service Agreement with JSC Uzenergosotish, Uzbekistan’s state-owned joint-stock company, to develop the nation’s largest standalone battery energy storage (BESS) project.
The Zarafshan BESS
forms the first phase of a national battery storage programme following
Masdar’s December 2023 agreement with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy and
Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade to develop up to 575 megawatts (MW)
/ 1.15 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of BESS capacity across the country.
Phase 1, which will be
capable of storing up to 300MW / 600MWh of electricity, equivalent to powering
approximately 1.3 million households for two hours, will connect to the Murunau
Substation, while a second 300MW / 600MWh phase will extend the Zarafshan
facility.
Once operational in Q3
2028, the Zarafshan BESS will strengthen Uzbekistan’s grid reliability and
flexibility, supporting its target of generating 54 percent of power from
renewables by 2030 and advancing long-term net-zero goals.
The agreement was
signed by Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, and
Jahongir Obidjonov, Chairman of the Board, JSC Uzenergosotish, and witnessed by
Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and Jurabek
Mirzamahmudov, Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan.
Al Mazrouei said: “The
UAE is proud to see its global clean energy leader, Masdar, supporting our
partners around the world in accelerating their energy transformations."
He added that the
Zarafshan Battery Energy Storage System will play a vital role in strengthening
Uzbekistan’s grid resilience and expanding renewable energy integration, an
ambition that aligns with the UAE’s own vision for a sustainable and
diversified energy future.
"This
collaboration is a testament to the strong ties between our nations and our
shared commitment to advancing practical, scalable solutions for global energy
security and decarbonisation," Al Mazrouei said.
Mirzamahmudov said: “In
recent years, the friendly relations between the heads of state of Uzbekistan
and the UAE have reached a new level. During President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s
visit in January, Uzbek-Emirati relations were elevated to the level of a
strategic partnership. Within this framework, large-scale projects aimed at the
widespread development of ‘green’ energy are being implemented in Uzbekistan in
cooperation with UAE companies."
In particular, in
partnership with Masdar, five solar power plants with a total capacity of
1,247MW, one wind power plant with a capacity of 500MW, and a 63MW energy
storage system have been commissioned in recent years. In addition, a 300MW
solar photovoltaic power plant is currently under construction.
"Thanks to this
fruitful cooperation, the next major project, an energy storage system with a
capacity of 300MW/600MWh, will also be implemented at an accelerated pace and
will make a significant contribution to the integration of large-scale renewable
energy sources into the grid and to the further development of Uzbekistan’s
energy sector," he added.
Al Ramahi stated that
the Zarafshan Battery Energy Storage System is a significant milestone for
Uzbekistan’s energy transformation, and another demonstration of Masdar's
leadership in global battery storage projects.
This project builds on
more than two decades of experience developing and operating large-scale
renewable and storage assets."
Obidjonov said” “We
are very pleased to launch another major project in cooperation with Masdar.
This initiative will make a significant contribution to achieving Uzbekistan’s
ambitious goals for the transition to green energy, and we express our sincere
gratitude for this partnership.”
The Zarafshan BESS
adds to Masdar’s growing current footprint in Uzbekistan, which includes around
2GW of clean energy capacity, with investments totaling over $2 billion.
Masdar has committed
to developing over 2GW of additional clean energy capacity, as well as the
extension plan of Zarafshan BESS with an additional 300MW / 600MWh, supporting
Uzbekistan’s goal to reach 20GW of renewables by 2030 and Masdar’s global ambition
of 100GW by 2030.
Masdar is also
advancing large-scale energy storage innovation worldwide. In October, it broke
ground on the world’s first gigascale 24/7 solar and battery storage project in
Abu Dhabi, featuring a 5.2GW solar plant integrated with a 19GWh BESS to deliver
1GW baseload renewable power.
Upon completion, this will be the largest and
most technologically advanced system of its kind globally. -OGN/ TradeArabia News Service
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