Voltalia, a French renewable energy firm, has been chosen as the successful bidder to develop the 123 MW solar project in Uzbekistan. In July 2022, Voltalia participated in the auction, which was funded by the World Bank through the IFC Scaling Solar Program. The Uch-Uchak solar project will be built in the western Uzbek province of Khorezm, near the Turkmen border. Voltalia will be in charge of the power plant’s design, construction, financing, ownership, operation, and maintenance. It will be equipped with cutting-edge technology and will feature bi-facial panels mounted on trackers.
The agreement also includes the design, financing, and construction of the purchaser’s interconnection facilities. The solar power plant is expected to be operational in 2024. The solar facility investment will be supported by the development finance institutions in the area and financed through project debt. The Uch-Uchak solar project is a part of the Uzbek government’s plan to reach the target of 12 GW of solar and wind power by the end of this decade.
In November 2022, the Uzbekistan government and the French renewable energy business Voltalia agreed to jointly build renewable energy projects with a combined output of between 400 MW and 500 MW. As part of the agreement, 60 MW/240 MWh of battery storage would be built along with 200 MW of solar and 200 MW of wind capacity. The Voltalia and the Uzbek Ministry of Energy would select the project sites collaboratively.
