Uzbekistan’s Nukus 2 renewable energy project is nearing completion, combining a 200-megawatt wind farm with a 100-megawatt-hour battery system in what the Asian Development Bank describes as Central Asia’s first facility of its kind. The €232 million development is designed to supply more reliable renewable electricity to the national grid while demonstrating how energy storage can help manage fluctuating wind power.
Twenty-five of the project’s 26 turbines are already generating electricity in Karakalpakstan, an autonomous republic in northwestern Uzbekistan. The battery installation is undergoing staged commissioning, including safety and fire-protection checks, with full operation targeted by the end of November 2026.
How the Nukus 2 wind-and-battery project works
Developed by Saudi energy company ACWA through its local subsidiary ACWA Beruniy Wind, Nukus 2 combines renewable generation with short-term electricity storage. The wind farm is expected to produce nearly 728,000 megawatt-hours of electricity each year once fully operational.
The battery system will store electricity when wind production is available and release it when generation drops or demand rises. Project director Sardorbek Mahmudov said the batteries could provide power for approximately three to four hours, depending on how much electricity is being drawn.
The project includes:
- A 200-megawatt wind farm with 26 turbines
- A 100-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system
- A new 44-kilometre transmission line
- Upgrades to existing electricity infrastructure
- A connection to Uzbekistan’s national grid
The facility could eventually meet the electricity needs of more than 300,000 people, according to the project team.
Why energy storage matters for Europe and Central Asia
Wind and solar generation depend on weather conditions, while electricity demand changes throughout the day. This mismatch creates a challenge for grid operators: renewable power may be available when demand is low, then fall when households and businesses need more electricity.
Large-scale batteries cannot replace every form of backup generation, but they can provide rapid, short-duration support. They help stabilise the grid, reduce pressure during periods of high demand and make it easier to integrate additional renewable capacity.
The issue is also central to European energy policy. According to the International Energy Agency, 108 gigawatts of new battery storage capacity was installed worldwide in 2025, 40% more than in the previous year. In Europe, new large-scale battery additions more than doubled during the same year to approximately 4.6 gigawatts, even though total battery installations across all categories declined slightly.
That growth is relevant to European energy and climate policy because storage can support renewable deployment, electricity-market flexibility and energy security. The Uzbekistan project offers a regional example of how generation, transmission and storage can be planned as one integrated development.
International financing and the 25-year power agreement
Nukus 2 is backed by a combination of private investment and international development finance. In September 2025, the Asian Development Bank and a fund it administers signed a loan package worth approximately €46 million.
Other lenders include the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Dutch development bank FMO, Standard Chartered and Saudi EXIM. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank separately approved approximately €67 million in financing.
The Asian Development Bank also provided a government-backed credit guarantee intended to reduce financial risks and support competition during the project’s tender process.
The project has a 25-year power purchase agreement signed in March 2024 after a competitive tender. Under that agreement, Uzbekistan’s national grid operator will purchase electricity generated by the wind farm. Such long-term arrangements give developers a predictable buyer while helping governments attract investment into renewable infrastructure.
Construction, jobs and environmental safeguards
Construction progress was reported at 94.2% in an update published on 26 October. Between 750 and 800 people worked on the project during construction, including more than 400 local workers and specialists, according to project representatives.
The development has also included community engagement measures. Project staff said recruitment from nearby communities was intended to support local incomes, while complaint-handling procedures and compensation arrangements were established for people affected by construction.
Environmental assessments identified potential impacts related to land use and wildlife. These impacts require mitigation and ongoing monitoring as the facility moves from construction into full operation.
What happens next?
The immediate priority is completing the battery system’s commissioning process. Unlike the turbines, which began generating electricity in August, the storage system requires additional technical testing and safety checks before it can operate commercially.
The developer aims to complete commissioning by the end of November 2026. If that timetable is met, Nukus 2 will become a fully integrated wind-and-storage facility connected to Uzbekistan’s national grid.
The project’s performance will be closely watched as Uzbekistan expands renewable generation and as other countries assess how battery storage can support electricity networks. Its significance extends beyond the 200-megawatt wind farm: it demonstrates the growing role of flexible storage in making variable renewable power more dependable.
Conclusion
Uzbekistan’s Nukus 2 project is close to becoming Central Asia’s first wind farm paired with large-scale battery storage. Its €232 million investment links renewable generation, grid upgrades and international finance, while reflecting a wider global shift toward energy systems that can store clean electricity and release it when needed.