ACWA Power launches 200-MW wind, BESS construction in Uzbekistan

Saudi Arabian energy and water desalination company ACWA Power Co (TADAWUL:2082) on Tuesday marked the beginning of construction of a 200-MW wind farm and a 100-MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in Uzbekistan.

The Beruniy Wind Independent Power Plant (IPP) project, formerly known as Nukus 2, results from a public-private partnership between JSC National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan and ACWA Power. The two companies signed a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) earlier this year, setting the foundation for ACWA Power to execute the project under the build, own, operate and transfer scheme.

The Saudi Arabian group said on Tuesday that the Beruniy Wind IPP project was worth USD 260 million (EUR 234m). The wind farm and the BESS will be located in the Beruniy region of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, where ACWA Power will also build a 45-km (28 miles) long double-circuit 200 kV power transmission line leading to the Beruniy substation.

The facilities are expected to reach commercial operation date by the fourth quarter of 2026. Once powered up, they will generate around 800 GWh annually, meeting the electricity needs of approximately 292,000 households, ACWA Power said.

Uzbekistan is ACWA Power’s second-largest market in terms of investment, reaching up to USD 15 billion with 15 projects currently underway. Its power portfolio in the country currently stands at 11.6 GW, of which 10.1 GW represent renewables capacity, according to the company's earnings report for the first half of 2024.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.900)

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