Voltalia has begun construction of a 126MW solar ad battery project in Uzbekistan.
Sarimay is scheduled to be commissioned in the second half of 2025.
In addition to starting construction on the Sarimay solar project Voltalia has signed two new partnership agreements for the addition of a 50MW battery at Sarimay and a new 500MW battery elsewhere in the country.
The power purchase contract, for a period of at least 25 years, was won in 2022 as part of a tender managed by the IFC, a subsidiary of the World Bank.
For the financing of the project, Voltalia mandated the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) as well as the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
The solar power plant is part of a multi-energy complex located in the Khorezm region.
The 50MW battery storage unit is now the subject of a framework agreement, the long-term sales contract of which will be signed in the summer of 2024.
Its construction should start in 2024.
In addition, the potential of a future 100MW wind farm is being evaluated in detail.
The construction of the array could be launched in the medium term.
At the Tashkent International Investment Forum, Voltalia signed a memorandum of understanding for the development, financing, construction and maintenance of a 500MW battery storage complex.
This site will be backed by a long-term sales contract.
The tripartite partnership between the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade (MIFT) and Voltalia aims to support the growth of renewable energy production in the country by ensuring the stability and sustainability of its electricity grid.
Voltalia chief executive Sebastien Clerc said: “The start of work in Sarimay and the conclusion of an agreement for a new storage complex illustrate our commitment to strengthening our presence in Uzbekistan.
“These initiatives demonstrate our determination to play an important role in the country’s energy transformation, by providing innovative solutions that support the decarbonisation and stability of the country’s electricity infrastructure.”