A Saudi Arabian firm has successfully installed the largest wind turbine in the Central Asian region, specifically in Uzbekistan's Bukhara area, ACWA Power reports.
About the wind turbine
Produced by the Chinese wind turbine manufacturer Envision for ACWA Power, a Saudi company, this wind turbine boasts a capacity of 6.5MW. The installation was carried out by China Energy Engineering Corporation. Standing at an impressive 160m (525ft) tall with a rotor spanning 17m (23ft), this turbine marks a significant achievement.
It is positioned as the inaugural unit within ACWA Power's expansive 500 MW Bash wind farm near Bukhara, Uzbekistan. This large-scale wind farm project will incorporate a total of 79 similar turbines, contributing an anticipated annual electricity generation of over 1,650GWh and leading to the reduction of 750 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
The 500 MW Bash wind farm
The Bash wind farm is projected to become operational during 1Q 2025. ACWA Power has inked a 25-year power purchase agreement with JSC National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan for this initiative.
"The successful installation of the first turbine on the Bash wind farm is just one of the many milestones that we are excited to mark on this project. Most importantly, the steady progress takes us closer to supporting and contributing to Uzbekistan’s long-term ambitions to increase the share of renewables in their energy mix," - shares the company's Chief Portfolio Management Officer, Kashif Rana.
Other projects
In 2021, ACWA Power revealed its commitment to invest $2.5bn in constructing a power plant and two wind farms within Uzbekistan. Bash constitutes one of these two wind farms. ACWA Power's endeavors in Uzbekistan now encompass a total of 10 projects, collectively valued at $7.5bn.
With an ambitious goal to generate 30% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, Uzbekistan has undertaken significant reforms in recent years to bolster its ESG. This progress is facilitated through international cooperation, including assistance from entities like the International Finance Corporation, a part of the World Bank Group.
Apart from Saudi Arabia, other countries such as China, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates are also contributing to Uzbekistan's drive towards renewable energy investments.
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