ASTANA – Approximately 150 renewable energy projects developers and representatives of engineering, consulting and advisory companies in the energy sector gathered in Astana April 20-21 for the Kazakhstan Power and Renewable Energy conference.
“Kazakhstan is expected to become the biggest renewable energy player in the region and is taking further steps towards exploitation of its substantial alternative energy potential,” according to a statement by conference organisers Euroconvention Global.
“Kazakhstan is one of the most attractive markets for renewable energy and is actively developing its legislation in this field. It was the first country in Central Asia, where the feed-in tariffs for renewable energy facilities were adopted. Due to this legislative support, the first solar power plant in Kazakhstan is already in operation, and the country is now attracting international market players. About 28 solar energy projects are planned to be put into operation until the end of 2020,” the event’s synopsis said.
Euroconvention Global believes the wind power market in Kazakhstan “is also expected to grow fast in the period 2016-2025. A number of fully permitted and ready to build projects will increase in 2016 and in the coming years.”
They also noted that hydroelectric plant development “is part of the government effort to increase significantly its overall renewable power generation before 2020. The construction of small hydropower plants in Kazakhstan is expedient as the country’s rivers enjoy significant hydropower capacity. Geothermal power sources and biomass potential will be further developed in the new energy mix as well,” according the Euroconvention Global statement.
The Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy, according to organisers, features important plans and actions to be implemented to keep modernising and diversifying the country’s carbon-reliant economy.
“Renewable and alternative energy sources will provide 50 percent of all electricity produced in Kazakhstan by 2050. The country plans to spend an average $3.2 billion a year – along with investors – to achieve its green goals by 2050 and to cut significantly carbon emissions,” according the statement.
