Uzbekistan has taken another step toward its clean energy ambitions with a comprehensive training program hosted by the Energy and Water Academy (EWA Academy) in partnership with Saudi-based ACWA Power and the country’s ministries of energy and higher education. Held in Tashkent on October 7, the full-day workshop focused on key renewable energy technologies and brought together engineers, legal experts, financiers, policymakers, and students.
The training aimed to deepen national expertise in solar, wind, energy storage, and hydrogen technologies, critical components of Uzbekistan’s evolving energy strategy.
@Acwa Power
Four technical modules were led by senior ACWA Power experts. Manuel Pozo Garcia presented on solar photovoltaic (PV) system design, grid integration, and performance optimization. Mohammad Iftekhar Ansari discussed wind resource assessment and turbine technologies, highlighting opportunities in Karakalpakstan and the Bukhara region. Krunal Patel covered battery energy storage systems (BESS) and hybrid energy solutions, emphasizing their role in grid stability and renewable energy integration. Philip Boustead explored the potential of green hydrogen, particularly in decarbonizing sectors that are difficult to electrify.
A keynote address by Jose Barragan, Vice President of Technical Services at ACWA Power, highlighted the company’s expanding renewable energy portfolio and innovation strategy. The event also included an interactive quiz, open discussions, and awards to recognize participant engagement. Students from Shirin College, the first higher education institution in Uzbekistan dedicated to renewable energy, were among the attendees, underscoring the focus on building local capacity.
Dr. Jon Zaidi, ACWA Power’s Country General Manager for Uzbekistan, said the training supports the country’s Vision 2030 and the government’s broader push for a green energy transition. “Beyond financing infrastructure, we believe developing human capital is critical,” he said.
@Acwa Power
Thamer Alsharhan, chairman of EWA Academy, added that the initiative reflects a wider commitment to knowledge sharing, ensuring that local communities benefit directly from energy reforms.
The event builds on ACWA Power’s expanding presence in Uzbekistan. The company is currently developing more than 8.6 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity across the country, including several large-scale solar and wind projects.
In 2024, ACWA Power finalized dry financing for the $533 million Tashkent Riverside project, which combines a 200 MW solar PV plant with a 500 MWh battery energy storage system, the largest in Central Asia at the time. The company has also been active in wind energy, recently selling a 35% stake in two under-construction wind farms, Bash and Dzhankeldy, both located in the Bukhara region to China Southern Power Grid International.
