Uzbekistan’s 131MWp solar farm goes online

The Tutly power plant is seen to generate 270GWh of electricity.

Paris-based independent power producer Total Eren has commissioned the 131 megawatt-peak (MWp) Tutly solar photovoltaic project in the Samarkand region of Uzbekistan.

In a statement, Total Eren said the Tutly power plant is expected to produce 270 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity annually, enough to supply power to around 140,000 people, whilst reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 160,000 tonnes yearly.

It also created job opportunities for over 300 workers on-site during the construction phase and 15 permanent jobs for the operation phase.

The electricity generated by Tutly will be supplied to the state-owned power utility National Electricity Network of Uzbekistan.

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Total Eren said the project it developed was initially launched in October 2018 with the signing of a framework agreement between the company, Uzbekistan’s ministry of investment and foreign trade, and the state-owned power utility.

The project was financed by the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Proparco through a EUR43.7m loan, and two loans of about EUR21.8m each, respectively.

Uzbekistan’s power generation is largely dependent on thermal power plants, mainly gas and coal. Tutly power plant will support the government's target to reach 12GW of the renewable capacity of solar and wind and to produce 25% of electricity generated in the country from renewable sources by 2030.