Masdar has signed an agreement to develop Uzbekistan’s largest standalone battery energy storage system, a 300MW/600MWh facility in Navoiy designed to strengthen grid reliability and support renewable energy integration.
The Zarafshan Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is expected to be operational by the third quarter of 2028 and will be capable of storing enough electricity to power around 1.3 million households for two hours. The project is the first phase of a wider national storage programme that could ultimately deliver up to 575MW/1.15GWh, with a second phase planned to add another 300MW/600MWh.
The Battery Storage Service Agreement was signed between Masdar and Uzbekistan’s state-owned power trading company, JSC Uzenergosotish, during the ADIPEC conference in Abu Dhabi. UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei and Uzbekistan Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamahmudov witnessed the signing.
Al Mazrouei said: “The Zarafshan Battery Energy Storage System will play a vital role in strengthening Uzbekistan’s grid resilience and expanding renewable energy integration. This collaboration is a testament to the strong ties between our nations and our shared commitment to advancing practical, scalable solutions for global energy security and decarbonisation.”
Mirzamahmudov added: “Thanks to this fruitful cooperation, the next major project, an energy storage system with a capacity of 300MW/600MWh, will be implemented at an accelerated pace and will make a significant contribution to the integration of large-scale renewable energy sources into the grid.”
Masdar Chief Executive Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi described the project as “a significant milestone for Uzbekistan’s energy transformation, and another demonstration of Masdar’s leadership in global battery storage projects,” highlighting the company’s two decades of experience in large-scale renewable and storage assets.
Uzenergosotish Chairman Jahongir Obidjonov said the initiative “will make a significant contribution to achieving Uzbekistan’s ambitious goals for the transition to green energy.”
Masdar already operates around 2GW of clean energy capacity in Uzbekistan, with another 2GW under development, representing investments exceeding $2 billion. The Zarafshan BESS supports Uzbekistan’s target to source 54% of its electricity from renewables by 2030, while advancing Masdar’s global ambition to reach 100GW of renewable capacity by the same year.
The project follows Masdar’s recent start of construction on a 5.2GW solar and 19GWh battery system in Abu Dhabi, aimed at delivering 1GW of continuous renewable power, which it described as the world’s largest integrated solar and storage project.
