Uzbekistan President Inaugurates Nation’s First Utility-Scale Solar-Plus-Storage Project Developed by Masdar

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has inaugurated the Nur Bukhara project, the country’s first utility-scale integrated solar and battery energy storage installation, developed by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar). The ceremony, held in Tashkent, also marked the groundbreaking of Masdar’s 300 MW Guzar solar photovoltaic plant, supported by a 75 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS).

During the event, senior officials including H.E. Jamshid Khodjaev, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, and H.E. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, witnessed the exchange of agreements related to the 300 MW/600 MWh Zarafshan BESS, which will become Uzbekistan’s largest standalone battery storage project. Officials also endorsed a development roadmap for the 1,000 MW Navoiy wind power project, the first phase of a larger 2,000 MW program.

UAE–Uzbekistan Partnership Strengthened

H.E. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei reaffirmed the UAE’s role as a key partner in Uzbekistan’s renewable energy transition.
He noted that Masdar’s rapid expansion in Central Asia—now exceeding 2,000 MW in capacity—has been instrumental in advancing Uzbekistan’s energy security and supporting long-term sustainable economic growth.

“Through Masdar’s projects, the UAE continues to support Uzbekistan’s national efforts to develop efficient and sustainable energy infrastructure,” he said.

Uzbekistan Highlights Deepening Energy Collaboration

Uzbekistan’s Minister of Energy, H.E. Jurabek Mirzamahmudov, emphasized that bilateral relations with the UAE have strengthened significantly, culminating in a strategic partnership earlier this year.

He highlighted Masdar’s pioneering role, noting successful commissioning of five solar plants (1,247 MW), one wind plant (500 MW) and a 63 MW storage system, as well as ongoing construction of the 300 MW solar project. These projects, he said, are critical to integrating large-scale renewables into the national grid.

Masdar Expands Presence in Strategic Market

Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi said the inauguration of Nur Bukhara represents a “key milestone” in Uzbekistan’s clean energy journey and strengthens Masdar’s long-term commitment to the country.

Project Capacities and Impact

Nur Bukhara:

250 MW solar PV + 63 MW/126 MWh BESS

Powers 55,000+ homes

Avoids 367,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually

Guzar Solar + BESS (operational 2027):

300 MW PV + 75 MWh storage

Powers 60,000 homes

Avoids 400,000+ tonnes of CO₂ annually

Zarafshan BESS (operational 2028):

300 MW/600 MWh—with a second 300 MW/600 MWh phase planned

Storage capacity equivalent to powering 1.3 million households for two hours

Growing Energy Portfolio

Masdar’s investments in Uzbekistan exceed US$2 billion, with a clean energy portfolio approaching 2 GW. The CIS region remains a core market for Masdar as it targets 100 GW globally by 2030.

Uzbekistan aims to develop 25 GW of renewable capacity and generate 54% of its electricity from renewables by 2030, a target reaffirmed by President Mirziyoyev during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

Global Expansion in Clean Energy Storage

Masdar is scaling global energy storage innovation, including its gigascale project in Abu Dhabi featuring a 5.2 GW solar plant integrated with a 19 GWh BESS, designed to deliver 1 GW of 24/7 baseload renewable power—the largest project of its kind worldwide once completed.