How Uzbekistan is shaping a clean energy future with Masdar
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Masdar’s latest Power to Change documentary takes us to Uzbekistan, where Masdar is driving one of Central Asia’s most ambitious renewable energy programs. The documentary captures a country on the move, from its industrial past towards a cleaner, more sustainable future powered by partnership and innovation.
“Our relationship with power is a very old one,” reflects Ilholm Jon Teshabaev, General Director, Uzbekistan Masdar. “We know our history, our old industries and how we generated power. But the world is moving forward and so have we.”
Since entering Uzbekistan in 2018, Masdar has committed over US$2 billion across major solar and wind developments, including the 500MW Zarafshan Wind Farm, as well as the 457MW Sherabad and 100MW Nur Navoi solar projects.
These landmark developments are powering progress for communities across Uzbekistan, offering secure, affordable energy to power progress.
“From the beginning, our mission was to identify how Masdar could best support Uzbekistan’s transition to a green and more sustainable energy system,” says Abdulla Zayed, Director of Development and Investment at Masdar.
That collaboration is expanding even further. Masdar and the Government of Uzbekistan are now advancing the country’s first standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), a breakthrough that will help balance the grid, stabilize supply, and ensure reliable clean power around the clock.
The film also highlights the role of international cooperation in accelerating progress. Ajeeb Haider, Director General for Project and Corporate Finance at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), describes how financing partnerships are transforming ambition into action.
“Our flagship projects in Uzbekistan in partnership with Masdar demonstrate how international financing can accelerate clean energy development in emerging markets,” says Haider. “Masdar is a trusted partner with extensive experience in delivering renewable energy sustainably and efficiently.”
For Ilhom, the view across rows of gleaming solar panels is deeply personal.
“As I look out at the solar panels, I see a future that is full of hope,” he says. “This is the change I’ve dreamt of, and it’s important to inspire the next generation to keep pushing our clean energy journey forward.”
With each project, Masdar and its partners are helping to power Uzbekistan’s economic growth, strengthen local communities and light the way toward a sustainable future, proving that when people come together with purpose, they truly become a power to change.
