Voltalia said it has generated the first megawatt-hours of electricity from its 126-megawatt (MW) Sarimay Solar project in Uzbekistan, marking a key milestone toward the site’s full commissioning.
The company said construction of the project, launched in May 2024, is now in its final phase. Sarimay was awarded through a public tender in December 2022 and operates under a 25-year power purchase agreement.
Located on a 180-hectare site, the facility includes more than 180,000 bifacial solar panels, over 350 inverters and a three-kilometre transmission line. Once fully operational, it is expected to produce around 252 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity per year — enough to power about 60,000 residents — while avoiding more than 140,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
The project is financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) with additional backing from the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus. Voltalia led the development, engineering, procurement and construction supervision, and will manage operations and maintenance after commissioning.
Robert Klein, Voltalia’s chief executive, said the start of production represented a significant step in the company’s Central Asian strategy.
“The first megawatt-hours from Sarimay marks a major achievement for Voltalia in Central Asia,” Klein said. “Successfully completing this 126-megawatt solar project demonstrates our ability to deliver large-scale renewable solutions that benefit both the environment and local communities.”
The company said the project incorporates environmental initiatives, including the planting of 2.65 million Haloxylon persicum shrubs to support ecosystem restoration. Voltalia has also partnered with local schools to promote education and vocational training.
At the peak of construction, about 776 workers were employed on-site, 85% of whom were local, with all work conducted under Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) standards.
Voltalia is also developing the 500-hectare Artemisya hybrid complex in Uzbekistan, whose first phase will deliver 100MW of wind power and 100MW / 200MWh of storage starting in 2026. The full project is expected to produce around 383GWh annually once commissioned in late 2027.
“We are excited to build on this momentum with our upcoming Artemisya project, which will further strengthen Uzbekistan’s renewable energy capacity and support the country’s energy transition goals for 2030,” Klein added.
