Given the current state of Uzbekistan's electric grid and the growing challenges of climate change, the Asian Development Bank is assisting the government in enhancing the capacity and reliability of the country’s power generation and transmission network. This initiative focuses on developing solar power plants, substations, transmission lines, and battery energy storage systems (BESS). The BESS will play a critical role in stabilizing the grid by storing excess energy during peak solar production and releasing it when demand is higher. However, to ensure climate-resilient development, it is essential to assess the exposure and vulnerability of the project components to climate hazards, such as floods, landslides, droughts, and heat waves. To address this, FutureWater, in collaboration with ADB, is conducting a rapid climate risk and adaptation assessment based on global climate model projections.
Uzbekistan is one of the fastest-growing economies in Central Asia, driving a steady rise in energy demand. However, the country faces significant power shortages due to increasing consumption, declining efficiency of aging power plants, and mounting climate pressures, particularly in regions like Tashkent, Samarkand, and Sirdarya. In response, Uzbekistan is prioritizing renewable energy development, especially solar power, to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. With its abundant sunlight, the country is well-positioned to harness solar energy, and several large-scale photovoltaic (PV) projects are currently in progress.
With the support of the Asian Development Bank, Uzbekistan aims to strengthen energy security and promote environmental sustainability by developing three solar PV plants (100 MW, 400 MW, and 500 MW), two substations, two battery energy storage system (BESS) facilities, and associated transmission lines across Samarkand, Bukhara, Jizzakh, Sirdarya, and Tashkent provinces. To identify the exposures and vulnerabilities of these project components to potential climate risks, FutureWater will utilize advanced downscaled Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) ensembles, along with relevant hazard data and local information, to conduct a rapid Climate Risk Assessment (CRA). The insights gained will enable the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to implement effective adaptation measures and ensure climate-resilient development.
