ACWA Power breaks ground for wind power, battery projects in Uzbekistan

A power transmission line will also be built.

Saudi-listed ACWA Power has commenced construction in the Beruniy Wind Independent Power Plant (IPP) project which will see the development of a 200-megawatt (MW) wind power plant and a 100 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in the Beruniy Region of the Republic of Karakalpakstan in Uzbekistan.

In a statement, ACWA Power said a double-circuit 220 kilovolt power transmission line with a length of 45 kilometres up to the Beruniy substation will be also built. 

The $260-m Beruniy Wind IPP project is in partnership with JSC National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan. Once completed, it will generate 800 million kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually, supplying electricity to approximately 292,000 households. 

The project will also save 212 million cubic metres of natural gas and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 336,000 tonnes per year, the company said.

Commercial operation is expected by the fourth quarter of 2026.

Uzbekistan is ACWA Power's second largest market in terms of investment, with 15 projects currently underway and a total investment volume of up to $15b.