Uzbekistan is set to enhance its renewable energy capabilities with the construction of a new 100-megawatt (MW) solar power plant in the Khorezm region, supported by a $3.5mn payment guarantee from the World Bank Group. This initiative will bolster the country's transition to green energy and aligns with its goal of generating 25 gigawatts of renewable capacity by 2030.
The project, developed by France-based Voltalia through its subsidiary Sarimay Foreign Enterprise LLC, is scheduled for commissioning in November 2025. Spanning 177 hectares, the plant will generate over 240 gigawatt-hours of clean energy annually, enough to power approximately 60,000 households. Additionally, the facility will reduce CO₂ emissions by more than 230,000 metric tons each year.
“The World Bank Group supports Uzbekistan in meeting its energy needs and expanding renewable energy to reach 25 GW of capacity, covering 40% of the country’s electricity consumption by 2030,” stated Tatiana Proskuryakova, the World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia. “We are pleased that the solar plant in the Khorezm region, backed by the Bank’s payment guarantee, will bring new private sector players to diversify the country’s renewable energy sector.”
Under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement, the state-owned National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan (NEGU) will purchase electricity from Sarimay Foreign Enterprise LLC. The World Bank’s payment guarantee ensures NEGU’s financial obligations, which facilitated the mobilization of $80mn in capital investment. This includes a financing package exceeding $54mn from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
Ferhat Esen, Senior Energy Specialist at the World Bank, highlighted the organization’s comprehensive support for Uzbekistan’s renewable energy transition.
“Since 2020, the World Bank and IFC have supported the development of 1,000 MW of solar and 500 MW of wind energy in Uzbekistan through guarantees, financing, and private sector partnerships,” Esen said.
The Khorezm project joins a growing list of renewable energy initiatives in Uzbekistan, including:
- Navoi Region Solar Plant (100 MW): Operational since 2021.
- Samarkand and Jizzakh Solar Plants (440 MW): Operational since 2024.
- Navoi Wind Power Plant (500 MW): Currently under construction.
- Bukhara Solar Plant (250 MW): Features a 63 MW/126 MWh battery energy storage system, the first of its kind in Central Asia.
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