In a major pact, ACWA Power has signed a pact to build a $100 million green hydrogen project with Uzbekistan’s state-owned chemical firm Uzkemyoasat. As per the statement, this will be the first project of its kind in the Central Asian country. The deal also includes a power purchase agreement with the National Power Grid of Uzbekistan. The hydrogen offtake capacity is set at 3,000 tons per year, while the renewable capacity will range from 52-100 megawatts (MW), the statement added.
The deal also includes the procurement of renewable energy capacity of 52 to 100 megawatts from Uzbekistan’s inaugural green hydrogen plant, which is jointly being developed by ACWA Power, too.
In March, it signed power purchase agreements worth $2.5 billion for the development, construction, operation, and ownership of three solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Uzbekistan. The three PV solar projects will have a combined capacity of 1,400 megawatts (MW), according to a statement by ACWA Power.
Under the deals signed with the National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan), ACWA Power will also develop, construct, operate, and own three Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) with a combined capacity of 1,500 MW. The facilities will be located in the Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara regions of Uzbekistan and will likely offset 1.6 million tons of carbon emissions per year and power 1.1 million households once completed, informed the statement.
The said deal for hydrogen and power will span 15 and 25 years, respectively, and will involve project development, construction, and operation. The completion of the the project is targeted for December 2024.
There are plans to link the green hydrogen plant to an existing ammonia facility in Chirchiq, located 45 kilometers from the capital, Tashkent. The firm affirmed in its statement that ACWA Power will be responsible for the full integration chain for this existing infrastructure project to green hydrogen, which is expected to reduce its dependence on natural gas.
ACWA Power operates in 12 countries, with total investments worth $74.8 billion and 72 assets. ACWA Power currently has over five active projects in Uzbekistan viz. four wind projects and a combined gas cycle turbine facility. Further, Uzbekistan is reported to be ACWA Power’s second most valuable market after Saudi Arabia.
