(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 7. Uzbekistan,
Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan will create a joint venture to implement
the Green Corridor project, Deputy energy Minister of Uzbekistan
Umid Mamadaminov told Trend in an exclusive interview.
“At COP29, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan are expected
to sign an intergovernmental agreement, which will be a milestone
for the initiative. This agreement will kick-start the project,
which will lead to rapid progress in its development. The three
countries had already signed a memorandum of understanding earlier
this year. We are engaging the consulting firm CESI (Centro
Elettrotecnico Sperimentale Italiano) to conduct a feasibility
study. The feasibility study procedure will take about a year,
after which construction will begin. Several IFI institutions are
also expressing interest in financing this green project. It is
expected that construction will take about 3-4 years. In addition,
by 2030, the infrastructure and generating capacity (Wind and Solar
generation) in the northwestern region of Uzbekistan will be fully
ready,” he said.
Mamadaminov noted that Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan
have ambitious goals to integrate renewable energy into their
energy infrastructure. The three countries are initiating a
significant transcontinental effort to deliver renewable energy to
Europe. This initiative will leverage the significant green
generation capacity being developed in Uzbekistan, particularly in
wind and solar power, along with Kazakhstan's capabilities to
enable the transmission of renewable energy across the Caspian Sea,
Azerbaijan, Georgia, and ultimately to Europe via the Black Sea and
Romania.
The deputy minister stated that the renewable project involving
Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan is expected to yield
significant advantages for all involved countries. This initiative
will empower these nations to enhance revenue, generate employment,
and substantially decrease carbon emissions. The integration of
electricity networks among these nations will optimize resource
usage, enabling each country to leverage its distinct advantages
for the collective benefit. Uzbekistan has considerable potential
in wind and solar energy, particularly with substantial wind
capacity in the northern region. By developing the requisite
infrastructure for power transmission to Europe, this potential can
be efficiently utilized.
“The project will use high-voltage direct current (HVDC)
technology, which is necessary for efficient transmission of
electricity over long distances (more than 1,000 km) with low
energy losses. The HVDC submarine cable will create a sustainable
infrastructure for the export of electricity to Europe. By 2030,
energy consumption in Uzbekistan is projected to reach more than
130 billion kWh. However, the expected surplus generated by solar
and wind resources will provide sufficient energy for export,” he
noted.
Umid Mamadaminov stressed that European nations have committed
to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 as part of
their climate goals. The supply of green energy from Central Asia
will significantly reduce Europe's dependence on fossil fuels and
facilitate the transition to renewable sources.
The deputy minister emphasized that other stakeholders, the
government are welcome to join this initiative. Our neighboring
countries, including Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, are interested in
participating in the initiative and the rich hydropower resources
of those countries will create a balanced continuous electricity
supply to the EU.
“Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan are investing heavily in
renewable energy to improve their energy systems. Azerbaijan offers
significant experience in solar and wind energy development, which
is in line with Uzbekistan's goal of significantly reducing carbon
emissions as outlined in the Paris Agreement. Uzbekistan has
committed to achieving a 35 percent reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions by 2030, while Azerbaijan has set comparable targets,” he
noted.
The deputy minister highlighted that Uzbekistan has positioned
itself as a central player in green energy in Central Asia in
recent years, having signed more than 20 gigawatts of renewable
energy projects, including more than 12 gigawatts of wind and more
than 8 gigawatts of solar capacity. Uzbekistan's renewable capacity
is expected to exceed 4,000 megawatts by the end of this year, and
forecasts indicate that it will double to more than 7,500 megawatts
by the end of next year.
Another important point suggested by Mamadaminov is that the
successful integration of intermittent energy sources (solar and
wind power) requires the creation of a robust infrastructure. This
includes the development of enough transmission lines, the
introduction of digital automation systems that will operate with
advanced weather forecasting, the availability of reserve capacity
(BESS, pumped hydro, small gas turbines) for quick ramp-up and
ramp-down generation for balancing power system, and development of
capacity building to have a qualified management team. The
importance of these elements cannot be overstated for countries
seeking to integrate renewable energy into their power systems. The
geographical distribution of generation sources often requires the
creation of extensive transmission networks to link remote
generation sites with consumption centers.
“In Uzbekistan, renewable generation is primarily located in the
northwestern and western regions, including Navoi, Bukhara,
Kashkadarya, and Karakalpakstan, while the central and western part
of the country has the highest consumption. This requires
significant investment in transmission lines to facilitate the
movement of energy from generation sites to demand areas.
Uzbekistan is focusing on advancing battery energy storage
projects, having already signed agreements for more than 2,000
megawatts (with more than 4,000 MWh capacity), where 300 megawatts
(more than 600 MWh capacity) are expected to be operational by the
end of this year. The implementation of large-scale battery energy
storage initiatives plays a critical role in stabilizing the energy
system, ensuring reliable electricity supply while addressing the
fluctuations associated with renewable energy sources,” he
added.
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