Saudi Arabia-based power plant developer ACWA Power has signed power purchase agreements and investment agreements with Uzbekistan to develop the 1.5 GW Kungrad wind farm (formerly known as the Karakalpakstan Wind IPP) in Karakalpakstan.
The wind farm shall comprise of three 500MW wind power projects owned by 3 subsidiaries, namely ACWA Power Kungrad Wind 1 LLC FE, ACWA Power Kungrad Wind 2 LLC FE, and ACWA Power Kungrad Wind 3 LLC FE.
Each of the 3 projects will also incorporate a 100MW capacity battery energy storage system. “Regarded as the largest single-site wind farm in Central Asia to date, and one of the largest of its kind in the world, the wind farm is expected to reach an investment value of $2.4 billion,” according to the statement.
Mohammad Abunayyan Chairman ACWA Power
“We are deeply honored to build upon our close partnership with the Republic of Uzbekistan as the nation continues to advance its decarbonization efforts, pursuing a strong shift towards renewable energy. The signing of key agreements today for the landmark Kungrad wind farm project, which will set a new benchmark for sustainable energy development in the region, and the world, would have not been possible without the guidance of our visionary leadership and the trust and commitment of our partners from the Uzbek government.”
“We are proud to play a vital role in supporting Uzbekistan’s long-term renewable strategy, stemming from the strong international ties between Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan, and remain committed to delivering clean energy at a low cost to ensure energy security and enable sustainable progress,” Mr. Abunayyan added.
The wind farm is expected to offset 2.4 million tons of carbon emissions per year and will have a minimum environmental impact due to the utilization of the latest mitigation technologies, including bird-detecting technology, that combines cutting-edge technology in both image sensors and software to prevent bird collision or fatality.
The Kungrad wind farm will bolster the Uzbek government’s long-term strategy to diversify the country’s energy mix, which targets 8GW and 12GW of solar and wind capacity by 2026 and 2030, respectively.
