Chinese company connects largest photovoltaic project in Central Asia to grid

The Uzbekistan 1 GW PV project, invested by China Gezhouba Group Overseas Investment Co., Ltd., achieved grid connection and began power generation on 27th December. 

This project is the largest PV project invested by Chinese companies in Central Asia.

The grid connection ceremony for the Uzbekistan Renewable Energy Investment Project took place in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, on 27th December. 

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev delivered a speech at the ceremony and congratulated the record-breaking achievement of grid connection for the first phase of the 1 GW PV project, which was completed in a short period of time. 

On-site grid connection launch ceremony [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

He stated that Uzbekistan is actively promoting large-scale energy reforms with the aim of transitioning the sector towards a more efficient market mechanism. Uzbekistan will continue to expand practical cooperation in the energy sector with its foreign partners.

The 1 GW PV project in Uzbekistan is the first large-scale renewable energy project constructed in Central Asia by Chinese companies since the inaugural China-Central Asia Summit in May this year. It is also the largest PV project invested and constructed by Chinese enterprises in Central Asia under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. 

1 GW PV project in Uzbekistan [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

During the construction and operation period, the project will provide approximately 1,600 job opportunities in the local area. Once formally operational, the annual power generation capacity will reach 2.4 billion kilowatt-hours.

As a leading global solar technology company, LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd. is an important participant in the energy transformation in Uzbekistan. Since 2022, LONGi has actively participated in several government-led projects in Uzbekistan. 

The Uzbekistan 1 GW PV project that has been connected to the grid employs the latest product released by LONGi in 2023, the Hi-MO 7 module. This new generation of high-efficiency modules is specifically designed for the centralized market and is particularly suitable for desert and high-temperature environments with high surface reflectivity. Compared to mainstream double-sided modules, it can achieve a 3% increase in power generation. 

The project requires a total of 2.08 million modules, equivalent to about 3,000 containers, which will be divided into batches and transported by the "Changan" China-Europe freight train to the capital city of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, before being further transported to the project site by truck.