Saudis achieve considerable advancements in wind energy in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
Wind Energy Revolution in Central Asia: Leading the Charge with ACWA Power
Get ready to be swept off your feet (or saddle, perhaps) as ACWA Power, the gutsy green energy pioneer from Riyadh, is bustling across Central Asia and causing a storm.
This week, the news is rife with ACWA Power's efforts to pave the way for groundbreaking wind energy projects in two Central Asian countries. Let's take a peek!
Stepping into Uzbekistan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has given the green light to construct two wind power plants (WPP)—both masterpieces under development by ACWA Power.
One 500-megawatt WPP, nestled in the autonomous Karakalpakstan republic, will rise near the far-flung western outpost of Kungirot. Simultaneously, another 300-megawatt WPP will grace the Gijduvan district in the Bukhara region.
The Uzbek government and ACWA Power sealed a deal in November, foreseeing liquid investments of a whopping $1.1 billion. ACWA Power has pledged to supply the generated electricity to the Uzbek national grid for a vigorous 25-year tenure.
Mirziyoyev's office announced in November that ACWA Power's portfolio includes projects collectively worth a staggering $7.5 billion.
But ACWA Power's fervor for wind power isn't limited to one country. In the neighboring Kazakhstan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev recently met with the visiting Energy Minister of Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz Al Saud. Their meeting resulted in a plan to develop a 1-gigawatt wind power plant in the Jetisu region, with, you guessed it, yet another role for ACWA Power.
Uzbekistan harbors a lofty goal to elevate the share of renewable energy sources in its total electricity production to a whopping 25% by 2030, with wind power plants supplying a substantial chunk of this energy. Current figures stand at 10%, but the future is promising as the country commits to installing solar and wind power plants with combined capacities of 8,000 megawatts.
Kazakhstan's renewables agenda seems more gradual compared to its neighbor, with an aim to ensure at least 15% of all electricity generated comes from renewable energy sources by 2030, eventually escalating to 50% by 2050.
In addition to wind power, ACWA Power has peddled its machinery into other green energy initiatives in the region. In March 2020, the company signed an agreement to invest a minty $1.2 billion into the development, construction, and operation of a 1,500-megawatt combined cycle gas-turbine power plant in the Syrdaryo region, promising benefits that will double the power generation per unit of gas compared to existing facilities.
By leaping into these green ventures, ACWA Power is demonstrating a profound commitment to bolstering the renewable energy landscape in Central Asia and playing a significant role in regional energy interconnections that could export clean energy to eager markets in Europe. The future of wind power in the region is looking mighty promising, indeed!
- The investment of $1.1 billion in wind energy projects by ACWA Power, as part of their collaboration with the Uzbek government, falls under the finance sector.
- The renewable energy sector in Central Asia is being reshaped by ACWA Power's projects, particularly in the realm of wind energy, as shown by their planned wind power plants in Uzbekistan.
- ACWA Power's operations in Central Asia also extend to other green energy initiatives, such as the development of a combined cycle gas-turbine power plant, which falls under the science and engineering sectors.
- The environmentalscience sector stands to benefit significantly from ACWA Power's renewable energy projects in Central Asia, as these initiatives contribute towards reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable energy.
