Image: JA Solar

Chinese module manufacturer JA Solar has signed a module supply agreement with engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for two large-scale solar projects in Uzbekistan.

Located near Samarkand in central Uzbekistan, the Samarkand 1 and 2 projects are being developed by ACWA Power, a Saudi company specializing in renewable energy, conventional power, and desalination projects. Together, the plants will deliver 1.2GW of solar capacity to support Uzbekistan’s goal of sourcing 25% of its electricity from renewables by 2030.

“Our high-efficiency, high-reliability modules are engineered to maximise energy yield in diverse environments. This agreement underscores the confidence our partners place in JA Solar’s technology and execution capabilities,” said Aiqing Yang, executive president of JA Solar.

Uzbekistan’s installed solar capacity was projected at around 2.3GW in 2025, with an additional 3.2GW of solar and wind projects expected to come online. By the end of 2024, the country had already connected 3GW of renewables to its national grid.

The nation’s renewable energy expansion has accelerated in recent years. In March 2025, Voltalia signed a PPA for a 526MW hybrid solar-wind-storage project scheduled to start construction in Q1 2026. Jakson Green secured US$353 million in 2024 to fund international expansion beginning in Uzbekistan, while Masdar connected its 511MW solar portfolio in the country.

In addition, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) recently approved US$142 million in financing for a 1GW solar and 1.3GWh battery energy storage portfolio in Uzbekistan. The projects are being developed through a special-purpose vehicle majority-owned by ACWA Power, alongside Japanese partners Sumitomo Corporation, Shikoku Electric Power, and Chubu Electric Power.