Bishkek:Kyrgyzstan has announced plans to develop a floating solar power plant with a capacity of 15 megawatts. The facility is set to be installed on the water surface near hydropower plant No. 5 (HPP-5), as reported by the Ministry of Energy.

According to 24.kg News Agency, the project will be executed by Chakan HPP OJSC in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The selection of a consultant for the project is currently underway, with 22 companies from various countries having submitted applications for the international tender posted on the ADB website. Six of these bidders have been invited to submit detailed proposals.

The Energy Ministry highlighted that HPP-5 has prior experience with similar projects. A pilot floating solar power plant, with a capacity of 0.1 MW, was commissioned at the site on March 1, 2024. This pilot plant generated 133,900 kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2024, 141,100 kWh in 2025, and 132,500 kWh in the first ten months of 2026.

The forthcoming power plant will significantly exceed the pilot facility's capacity, being 150 times more powerful. The installation of solar panels on the water surface is expected to conserve land resources, reduce water evaporation, and leverage existing hydropower infrastructure.

The initiative aims to boost electricity generation from renewable sources and expand the utilization of solar power within Kyrgyzstan. However, details regarding the construction cost, start date, and the expected commissioning date of the new power plant are yet to be disclosed.