Masdar, Uzbekistan Partner to Build 300 MW Battery Energy Storage Project

Masdar, the UAE’s flagship clean energy company, has signed a Battery Storage Service Agreement with Uzbekistan’s state-owned JSC Uzenergosotish to develop the country’s largest standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) in Zarafshan.

The Zarafshan BESS marks the first phase of Uzbekistan’s national battery storage program and follows Masdar’s earlier agreement with the nation’s Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade to develop up to 575 MW/1.15 GWh of storage capacity across the country.

Phase 1 of the project will have a capacity of 300 MW/600 MWh, enough to power around 1.3 million households for two hours, and will be connected to the Murunau Substation. A second phase of similar scale is planned to further expand the facility. Once operational in the third quarter of 2028, the project will enhance Uzbekistan’s grid flexibility and support its goal of sourcing 54 percent of its power from renewable energy by 2030.

The agreement was signed at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) by Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi and JSC Uzenergosotish Chairman Jahongir Obidjonov, in the presence of UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei and Uzbekistan’s Minister of Energy Jurabek Mirzamahmudov.

Minister Al Mazrouei emphasized that the project underscores the UAE’s commitment to global clean energy partnerships, saying the initiative “reflects the UAE’s vision for a sustainable and diversified energy future.” Minister Mirzamahmudov highlighted the growing strategic partnership between the two nations and praised Masdar’s expanding role in Uzbekistan’s green energy transformation.

Masdar currently has around 2GW of clean energy capacity operational in Uzbekistan, with over USD 2 billion in investments. The company plans to develop an additional 2GW of renewable capacity and expand the Zarafshan BESS by another 300MW/600MWh in the coming years, reinforcing Uzbekistan’s 20GW renewables target by 2030 and Masdar’s global 100GW ambition.