Uzbekistan, France's Voltalia launch construction of 500 kW solar power plant

TASHKENT. June 22 (Interfax) - Uzbekistan jointly with France's Voltalia have launched construction of a 500-kW solar power plant as part of a pilot agrovoltaic project, Uzbekistan's Energy Ministry said.

Uzbek media report that the power plant will be built on the premises of the Scientific Research Institute of vegetable, melon, and potato crops, with the project costing an estimated $900,000. Commissioning is scheduled for August 2026.

The participants discussed the project's implementation stages and prospects for expansion in the country's regions during the ceremony.

An agrovoltaic project combines agriculture and solar power generation on the same piece of land. This dual-use model allows crops to grow beneath elevated or spaced solar panels, which protect plants from excessive heat, reduce water evaporation, and provide farmers with both food yields and clean energy.