Uzbekistan is set to make significant progress in stabilizing its electricity distribution system, with a green-energy project expected to launch by the end of 2024.
According to the news outlet Podrobno.uz, a battery energy storage system (BESS) with a capacity of 150 MW/300 MWh has been successfully installed in the Ferghana Region. The project involves three Chinese companies: China Energy Overseas Investment Co. Ltd, Huawei, and the Central South China Electric Power Institute.
The new facility, built at a cost of $140 million, is projected to generate over 2.2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year. The plant is expected to begin operations in December, potentially providing a steadier electricity supply to about 900,000 Uzbek households annually. On average, an Uzbek household consumes approximately 200 kWh of electricity per month.
BESS technology is crucial for improving the efficiency of energy produced from renewable sources like wind and solar, which can be unpredictable due to natural fluctuations.
Podrobno.uz emphasized that this project is a key part of Uzbekistan’s broader energy strategy, aimed at reducing the country’s electricity shortage and advancing its transition to a greener economy. The project also highlights Uzbekistan’s ongoing cooperation with China, under the framework of China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative.
In a related development, Novosti Uzbekistana reports that Chinese companies are planning additional investments in Uzbekistan’s power sector. This includes a 500 MW power plant in the Tashkent Region and two smaller hydroelectric facilities with a combined capacity of 45 MW. However, further details on these investments were not disclosed.