Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) has signed a Battery Storage Service Agreement with JSC Uzenergosotish, Uzbekistan’s state-owned joint-stock company, to develop the nation’s largest standalone battery energy storage (BESS) project.
The Zarafshan BESS forms the first phase of a national battery storage program following Masdar’s December 2023 agreement with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade to develop up to 575 megawatts (MW) / 1.15 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of BESS capacity across the country.
Phase 1, which will be capable of storing up to 300MW / 600MWh of electricity, equivalent to powering approximately 1.3 million households for two hours, will connect to the Murunau Substation, while a second 300MW / 600MWh phase will extend the Zarafshan facility.
Once operational in the third quarter of 2028, the Zarafshan BESS will strengthen Uzbekistan’s grid reliability and flexibility, supporting its target of generating 54 percent of power from renewables by 2030 and advancing long-term net-zero goals.
The agreement was signed by Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, and Jahongir Obidjonov, Chairman of the Board, JSC Uzenergosotish, and witnessed by Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and Jurabek Mirzamahmudov, Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan.
In particular, in partnership with Masdar, five solar power plants with a total capacity of 1,247MW, one wind power plant with a capacity of 500MW, and a 63MW energy storage system have been commissioned in recent years. In addition, a 300MW solar photovoltaic power plant is currently under construction.
UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Al Mazrouei praised Masdar’s role in advancing global clean energy efforts, highlighting the Zarafshan Battery Energy Storage System as a key step toward strengthening Uzbekistan’s grid resilience and renewable integration. He said the project reflects the UAE’s commitment to a sustainable, diversified energy future and underscores the strong partnership between the two nations in driving practical, scalable solutions for energy security and decarbonization.
Jurabek Mirzamahmudov Minister of Energy Uzbekistan
“In recent years, the friendly relations between the heads of state of Uzbekistan and the UAE have reached a new level. During President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit in January, Uzbek-Emirati relations were elevated to the level of a strategic partnership. Within this framework, large-scale projects aimed at the widespread development of ‘green’ energy are being implemented in Uzbekistan in cooperation with UAE companies. Thanks to this fruitful cooperation, the next major project, an energy storage system with a capacity of 300MW/600MWh, will also be implemented at an accelerated pace and will make a significant contribution to the integration of large-scale renewable energy sources into the grid and to the further development of Uzbekistan’s energy sector.”
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, said the Zarafshan Battery Energy Storage System marks a major milestone in Uzbekistan’s energy transformation and reinforces Masdar’s global leadership in battery storage. He noted that the project builds on over two decades of experience in developing and operating large-scale renewable and storage assets.
For his part, Ulugbek Obidjonov expressed appreciation for the collaboration with Masdar, emphasizing that the project will play a key role in advancing Uzbekistan’s green energy transition and achieving its ambitious sustainability goals.
The Zarafshan Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) strengthens Masdar’s expanding presence in Uzbekistan, where it already operates around 2GW of clean energy capacity worth over $2 billion. Masdar plans to add another 2GW of renewables and extend the Zarafshan BESS by 300MW/600MWh, supporting Uzbekistan’s 20GW renewable target and Masdar’s global 100GW goal by 2030.
Globally, Masdar is driving large-scale energy storage innovation. In October, it broke ground on the world’s first gigascale 24/7 solar and battery storage project in Abu Dhabi, a 5.2GW solar plant integrated with a 19GWh BESS to provide 1GW of continuous renewable power, the largest and most advanced system of its kind.
