The Coordinating Dispatch Center (CDC) Energia in Tashkent is a dream come true for the country’s skilled engineers and dispatchers, thanks to the combined efforts of General Electric (GE) Digital and USAID. This dream marks the beginning of a new era in Central Asia’s energy landscape.

This partnership began with USAID establishing the American Innovation Center for Central Asia in September 2022. The center’s main objective was to encourage technology advancements and facilitate regional collaboration to adopt sustainable energy solutions. USAID supported the Innovation Center with nearly $2 million, providing a solid foundation for significant impact.

USAID then identified key industry players to collaborate with, and ultimately chose GE Digital as the ideal partner. Their shared vision was to enhance energy security, expedite clean energy development, and foster regional connectivity. To achieve this, USAID decided to provide CDC Energia with a state-of-the-art video wall to complement their existing SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system. Additionally, USAID provided a WAMS (Wide Area Monitoring System) to ensure real-time observation and enhance situational awareness, ultimately safeguarding the region’s energy landscape.

Alain Magnier, an installation and maintenance technician from France, was brought to Tashkent to complete the installation and configuration of the video wall. “On site, from my arrival to my departure, everything has been perfect, working in good and professional collaboration with the local team. We always found solutions together when mechanical problems appeared,” he recalls.

During the partnership, Ruslan Barba, a representative from GE Vernova, explained the WAMS System – a technological marvel that enhances efficiency, stability, and energy security in the region. He also discussed how this system interacts with the Central Asian Power System (CAPS), which was established during the Soviet regime.

“WAMS technology enables more efficient use of power system capabilities by providing greater insight into power system dynamics and early warning of disturbances, providing enhanced situational awareness. Calculating modeling in the past, containing a lot of assumptions and errors, is replaced by real-time observation with accuracy. Considering the energy projects implemented in CAPS, and serious investments in Renewable Generation in Uzbekistan, the observability of the Power System becomes even more important for ensuring the stability and security of the Power System, and for the development of the electricity market in the Region” said Barba.

Fast forward to December 2023, when the fruits of this collaboration were easily recognized. CDC Energia in Tashkent was equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and software, ready to usher in a new era of energy management.

The official opening ceremony in January 2024 was a grand affair, attended by high-profile guests, including the Deputy Minister of Energy, the U.S. Ambassador, and USAID officials. The event showcased the cutting-edge technology that will empower CDC Energia to manage and monitor electricity flows, ensuring regional stability and fostering increased opportunities for electricity trade.

Khamidilla Shamsiev, the Head of CDC Energia, extended his sincere gratitude to USAID for its continuous support.

As Mr. Shamsiev spoke to the attendees and the greater public, he underscored the importance of the event:“Today we are launching another gift from USAID – a modern video wall, received in the form of technical assistance, which will allow our dispatchers to display relevant information for maintaining the regime. It complemented the SCADA system, previously supplied by another of our donors, the Asian Development Bank. The resulting system will undoubtedly improve and modernize the work of CDC Energia as a regional System Operator, which faces increasingly new challenges in connection with the intensive integration of renewable energy sources in the Central Asian region and the introduction of the electricity and capacity market.”

The partnership between USAID and GE Digital delivered technological solutions and paved the way for a resilient, efficient, and interconnected energy landscape in Central Asia. As the story continues, the region stands poised for a clean energy future, unlocking economic benefits through regional trade, and embracing the promise of a sustainable tomorrow.

“USAID’s ongoing and invaluable support helps us move forward, and today’s event is proof of that. I hope that our fruitful cooperation will continue in the future,” emphasized Khamidilla Shamsiev.