Proposed construction of a large Wind Farm in Karakalpakstan announced by the Government of Uzbekistan

Saudi Arabia-based energy company ACWA Power which won an international tender in 2020 to construct a large wind power plant in nKarakalpakstan offering a tariff of 2.5695 cents per kilowatt-hour of generated electricity (The runner up Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar) had offered a tariff of 2.6550 cents per kilowatt-hour.) The wind farm project implementation agreement was signed on May 3 2001 between the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade and the Saudi energy company ACWA Power. The project prooposed includes the development, construction and operation (of up to 400 MW/yr) wind power turbines in the Karauzyak and Beruni regions of the Karakalpakstan. It is expected to cost $140 million and once completed will provide electricity to about 110,000 households, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 157,000 tonnes per year, as well as creating more than 1,000 new jobs during the construction period. The wind farm is expected to be commissioned by mid-2023 and is part of the government’s wider programme aimed at diversifying the country’s energy balance by introducing alternative sources of electricity. Uzbekistan has set a goal of increasing to 25 percent the share of electricity generated from renewable sources in the total energy balance. Uzbekistan is to increase its renewable energy target to a total of 12 gigawatts by 2030 (photovoltaic solar plant capacity to 7 gigawatts and wind power generation to 5 gigawatts). ACWA Power International (ACWA Power) also has built projects in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. It is also investing in two wind power projects in Bukhara and Navoi, entered into earlier this year, with a combined power generation capacity of 500-1,000 MW, with relevant electricity purchase agreements and investment agreements signed. In addition, the Saudi company is set to build a 1,500 MW gas-fired power plant project in the Syrdarya. Source: https://www.thetribune.com/saudis-acwa-power-wins-tender-to-build-wind-power-plant-in-uzbekistan/ Note: From other sources both UAE's Masdar and Chinese power firm Lioaning are all planning the development of other large wind farms in Uzbekistan.