RENEWABLE ENERGY POTENTIAL OF KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

2017 was the year when capital of Kazakhstan Astana was hosting EXPO2017 “Future Energy”. The preparation for a such big event has stimulated attention of the government to development of its own renewable energy resources. It was planned that to the end of 2020 3% of produced energy would be the energy from renewable energy sources. Towards 2025 it would be produced 6% towards to 2030 it would be 10%. By year 2050 more than 50% should be used from renewable sources. Kazakhstan with its huge territory and not very big population is having great potential for renewable energy production. Most of the territory has sufficient amount for solar energy harvest and also large amount of area with high speed of wind has large potential to produce sufficient amount of wind energy. Such areas as Jungar Gates and Chylyk Corridor are having huge potential for production of energy by wind turbines. Part of Kazakhstan between Balkhash Lake and Aral Sea is not very populated due to shortage of water. At the same time this area has very high level of solar irradiation. It is possible to harvest large amount of solar energy in that area in case of many solar panels arrays installation. The problem, difficult to overcome, would be the maintenance of these solar panel arrays due to low population and poor living conditions. There are at least two major reasons to go for renewable energy development in the country. First one – Kazakhstani leadership is looking into opportunities to change from resource economy (it is one of oil producing countries – it has more than 2% of world oil reserve and many other resources) to technology driven one. In this case resources will be used to produce different products. Due to that, one of the challenges is to move from fossil fuel driven energy production to alternative sources and the potential is there. It provides users with benefits if they supply energy produced by alternative sources to the grid with preferable rates.