ACWA Power’s 500 MWh BESS begins operating in Uzbekistan

ACWA Power has commenced commercial operations of its 334 MW/500 MWh battery energy storage project (BESS) in Uzbekistan. It initially secured financing for the project in 2024.

It signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with the JSC National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan, which acted as the sole offtaker for the project, which cost $546 million. The BESS is part of the 200 MW Riverside Solar project installation, in the Tashkent region.

ACWA Power owns a 100% stake in the company that operates the Riverside plant.

ACWA Power was responsible for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) process at the Riverside solar and storage plant. The developer was notified of the commencement of commercial operations at the Riverside BESS by its wholly-owned project company. Riyadh-headquartered ACWA Power subsequently announced this news via a Saudi Stock Exchange filing.

Uzbekistan is a hot market for ACWA Power. As well as the now completely operational Riverside project in Tashkent, it has several wind and storage parks in various stages of development, many located in the Republic of Karakalpakstan with JSC National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan acting as offtaker.

It has an agreement with the Uzbek grid operator for the development, construction, and operation of a 1,500 MW onshore wind power plant and a 300 MW BESS due for commercial operation in Karakalpakstan in early 2027.

Also in advanced development in the Karakalpakstan region is the Beruniy project, comprising 200 MW of wind and 200 MWh of BESS.

Meanwhile, in the development stage, are the Kungrad 123 Wind IPP with 1,500 MW of wind and 300 MW of BESS, and the first and second Sazagan Solar projects which will add 334 MW of battery storage capacity.

The Saudi developer is also developing a 2 GWh battery in the country and in 2024 it secured funding from the International Finance Corporation for the construction of a 1 GW solar plant, 668 MW BESS, and 500 km of transmission lines.

In October 2024, it announced the sale of 49% of its holding in five large energy projects worth an estimated $4.2 billion to Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation. This included 968 MW of BESS.

ACWA Power is active in 15 countries, according to its website, and has 113 assets with $119.7 billion assets under management. Its generation capacity spans 96 GW.