SkyPower to invest US$1.3 billion in 1 GW solar projects in Uzbekistan
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SkyPower has announced that it intends to invest approximately US$1.3 billion to install 1,000 MW of solar energy generation capacity throughout Uzbekistan. The country’s President Shavkat Mirziyyoyev has signed a decree signifying the government’s full support of the project and sovereign guarantees.
Uzbekistan and SkyPower also signed the first Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in the country’s history. SkyPower will be the first independent power producer in the history of Uzbekistan, working closely with state-owned utility company Uzbekenergo.
The SkyPower project will be the first ever solar power generation project in Uzbekistan, as well as the first public-private partnership between Uzbekistan and a North American company.
In addition, the project marks the largest foreign direct investment in Uzbekistan’s history. SkyPower expects it to contribute around US$2.9 billion to the country’s gross domestic product and create thousands of jobs.
Once operational, the solar plants installed will generate about 10% of Uzbekistan's total renewable generation capacity, helping the country reach its 2030 Paris Climate commitments while bringing power to its population.
SkyPower has not disclosed any further details of the project, so it remains to be seen when these 1000 MW will be added to Uzbekistan's power grid.
In March 2017, the government of Uzbekistan announced that five 100 MW solar plants would be installed in the country between 2017 and 2021. Three of the plants in development were located in the region of Samarkand, according to Uzbekenergo. The company awarded Chinese solar company Singyes the right to develop one of these projects in December 2016.
To our knowledge, no information on the progress of these projects has been publicly disclosed since that announcement in March. SkyPower's claim that its project will be the first ever solar project in Uzbekistan implies that it is replacing the projects announced last year. Perhaps the government's approval was partly driven by a failure to advance the solar projects previously planned.
