January 20, 2022 • 2 min read
Delivering a utility-scale solar PV power plant for Madsar
How we're working with Masdar in Uzbekistan to help support the nation's energy transition
Until recently, Uzbekistan relied on gas for 85 percent of its electricity. However, its ageing infrastructure means that around 20 percent of net electricity is lost.
And with the population growing by around 1.7 percent per year, the need for reliable, low-carbon energy is also increasing.
Servicing 31,000 homes with green energy
We worked alongside Masdar, a developer and operator of utility-scale renewable energy projects, to help meet that demand. We provided project management consulting, the detailed design review, and technical support during the construction of Uzbekistan’s first utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant.
Located 35 km west of the city of Navoi, the power plant covers an area of around 267 hectares. When fully operational, it will provide green electricity to 31,000 households, saving 79 million cubic meters of national gas in Uzbekistan.
The electricity generated through this facility and other renewable ventures will be enough to meet approximately 25 percent of Uzbekistan’s power needs by 2030.
Global expertise in a local environment
Implementing a large-scale project during a pandemic was always going to bring challenges. However, a combination of global expertise and local support made this possible, on time and on budget.
Our Renewables Center of Excellence in Madrid, Spain, carried out the facility project management, with support from our location office in Uzbekistan. Combining our experience in PV plant construction with knowledge of the region, we supported Masdar with a design and engineering review to assess the potential performance of the plant.
3D model of the solar photovoltaic power plant
First power to the grid
The plant was inaugurated in August 2021 with successful back energization and delivery of the first MWh of electrical energy to the grid. It will deliver over 260 million kWh of environmentally green electricity generation every year.
“The new solar power station will help Uzbekistan reduce its reliability on fossil fuels,” says Javier Garcia, Project Director, New Energy at Worley. “This is a great example of how we're helping new locations start their low carbon energy journey to meet the needs of the energy transition. This plant is a first for Uzbekistan, but it most certainly won’t be the last.
“The inauguration of the Nur Navoi Solar Power Plant represented a key milestone in Uzbekistan’s renewable energy journey, and the project is already making a positive impact on the nation’s climate objectives. The project has also contributed positively to the local community by providing job opportunities and knowledge on renewable energy,” says Mohamed Al Muharrami, Project Manager, Masdar.
Statistic Cards
kWh of green electricity generation delivered per year
households provides green electricity
of national gas saved in Uzbekistan
hectares of site coverage
