EBRD provides $142m for solar and battery project in Uzbekistan

Core Insights - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is co-financing a solar energy and battery project in Uzbekistan with a financing package of €121 million ($142 million) [1][5] - The project involves two special-purpose vehicles (SPVs) with a combined capacity of 1GW, focusing on solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage systems (BESS) [1][2] Financing Details - ACWA Power holds the majority stake in the SPVs, with Japanese investors including Sumitomo, Shikoku Electric Power Company, and Chubu Electric Power Company participating for the first time in Uzbekistan's renewable energy sector [2] - The financing package consists of two senior secured loans: €52 million for ACWA Power Sazagan Solar 1, which will develop a 500MW solar PV plant and a 668MWh BESS in the Samarkand region [2][3] - The second loan of €69 million will fund ACWA Power Sazagan Solar 2, which will construct a 500MW solar plant and a 668MWh BESS in the Bukhara region [3] Project Impact - The project aligns with Uzbekistan's broader renewable energy strategy, aiming for 25GW of solar and wind capacity by 2030 [4] - Once operational, the project is expected to generate approximately 2,300GWh of electricity annually, sufficient to power around 600,000 households [4] - EBRD has previously supported significant green energy projects in Uzbekistan, including 1.65GW of wind capacity, 1.4GW of solar PV, and 334MW of BESS [4]