The climate agenda is closely connected to the development of the energy industry. To help combat the effects of climate change, the countries are undertaking and approving a number of ambitious climate goals, including the transformation of the energy sector. Kazakhstan has consistently demonstrated its commitment to achieving the declared energy and climate goals, including support for the development of renewable energy and decarbonization of the energy sector. We are all aware that a new reality is coming, which requires urgent action to move to a more sustainable energy sector.

For your reference, on October 31, 2021, the UN Climate Change Conference – the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP-26 -COP-26) started in Glasgow. On November 1, 2021, in his speech at this conference, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin noted that in order to fulfill its international obligations under the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Kazakhstan intends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by 2030; aims to increase the amount of energy from renewable energy sources to 15% and from environmentally friendly sources to 38%; plans to reduce the share of coal generation from 70% to 40%; increase the carbon dioxide absorption potential by planting over 2 billion trees by 2025; adopted a new Environmental Code; and will soon finalize the development of a strategic document to fulfill the commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. The transition to carbon neutrality will provide a path to sustainable energy.

Due to comprehensive measures to decarbonize the economy, increase energy efficiency in all sectors of the economy, carbon capture and storage technologies and other innovations, electrification, widespread use of renewable energy source and environmentally friendly sources, effective management of water, land and, in general, natural resources and capacity-building of specialists, Kazakhstan will achieve its goals in this direction.

In addition, Kazakhstan is ready to act as a Regional climate hub for combining efforts for sustainable development in Central Asia. This center will facilitate the attraction of green financing, technology transfer, innovation and knowledge exchange in the region. It is important to note that at the Glasgow Summit, Kazakhstan adopted a Declaration on the Protection of Forests and Land Use and a Commitment to youth education and involvement. We are confident that on the way to achieving these ambitious goals, our activities and accumulated experience would help attract students and young professionals, train international-level personnel for strategic management in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency and integrate solar, hydro and wind generation into energy systems, as well as develop the necessary training programs and practical expeditions taking into account the analysis of the renewable energy market in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

Despite the pandemic, the renewable energy sector around the world shows a high growth rate, but this is still not enough. According to the results of a study by PwC Kazakhstan "The renewable energy market in Kazakhstan: potential, challenges and prospects”, despite the fact that the first milestone was successfully completed, and in Kazakhstan the growth of renewable energy amounted to 3% in electricity production in 2020, respondents noted a number of challenges, such as revision of the legislative framework taking into account the current development of renewable energy, lack of balancing capacities and uncompetitiveness of established tariffs, financial risks of investors, expensive accumulative technologies, insufficient incentives for the development of microgeneration and other problems arising during operation of facilities and connection of renewable energy sources to the National Grid System of the country. We can observe how the topic and popularity of renewable energy and alternative energy sources has developed over the past decade, as well as the declining cost of electricity generation costs. This implies the paramount importance in increasing the potential of existing specialists and training new personnel.

What could be better than the knowledge gained in practice? In our case, knowledge obtained during the educational expedition “Renewable Energy Trip 2021” (hereinafter RE Trip 2021) to renewable energy facilities to study the best practices of using renewable energy sources in Kazakhstan. We would like to note that this is the fourth trip organized by the Kazakh-German University (DKU) with the support of international and regional partners, public and private institutions. This year, DKU carried out this expedition jointly with the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan and with the support of the project of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) "Power Central Asia", the Regional Environmental Center of Central Asia, significant assistance was provided by "Qazaq Green" Association.

The main purpose of the trip was to visit renewable energy facilities in Kazakhstan, which allowed the participants to study solar, wind and hydroelectric power plants in practice, better understand their technical and technological features, prepare cases of best practices on renewable energy and discuss existing challenges and opportunities for the introduction of new renewable energy in the framework of informational meetings with the management and leading engineers at the stations, as well as expedition participants- specialists from Central Asian countries.

More than 140 applications from Central Asia participated in the competition. As a result of careful selection, the commission members selected 16 winners from 4 Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan), including undergraduates of the DKU educational program "Strategic Management of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency" (hereinafter SMREEE). The main selection criteria were education and experience in the field of renewable energy and further application of the knowledges obtained during the trip in writing theses, dissertations and scientific papers. The expedition was led and accompanied by DKU employees Alexey Kobzev and Dana Zhunisova.

One can agree to a certain extent with the Roman orator and educator Quintilian, who said that "practice without theory is more valuable than theory without practice," because the beginners and practitioners were able to comprehensively enrich themselves with practical knowledge by applying mastered theory and education and discuss with managers, engineers and like-minded people.

The route of the trip consisted of two parts: the Southern and Northern route through Kazakhstan. The South of Kazakhstan included a visit to the Nurgisa 100 MW Solar Park, Merken HPP-1 and 2, and Burnoye Solar 1 and 2 SPP. The northern part of the expedition in Kazakhstan consisted of a visit to the Nura SPP, Saran SPP, the First WPP near Yerementau, the Renewable Energy Landfill and the NURIS PI, as well as the Astana EXPO-2017 WPP and the Flower of the Almighty Mosque with zero energy consumption in Nur-Sultan.

At the beginning of the expedition, on October 4, a round table was held on economic mechanisms to support the development of renewable energy in Kazakhstan (the role of the government and international organizations), followed by a trip and a visit to the 100 MW Nurgisa 100 MW Solar Park near Kapshagai. Energy production at this plant in 2020 amounted to 160,123,774,800 kWh, and the SPP conditionally reduces CO2 emissions into the atmosphere by 150 thousand tons per year. A total of 303,048 polysilicon solar panels with a capacity of 330 watts each have been installed. This facility uses the experience of Singapore and China in the development of solar and wind energy, as the project is implemented by a subsidiary of Singapore's Eneverse Kunkuat PTE LTD. This company is also planning to implement five renewable energy projects: 2 SPP and 3 WPP.

The next day, the participants visited Merken HPP-1 and HPP-2. Small hydroelectric power plants are located on the Merke River in the Zhambyl region. Small (0.5 MW and 1.5 MW), but necessary sources of electricity for the settlement. The cost of electricity close to market prices, short payback periods and insignificant impact on the environment can attract investments in the development of small hydroelectric power plants.

The very first SPP in the history of our country - “Burnoye Solar" met the participants with windy weather, and the representatives of the station with a warm smile and joy shared their experience and knowledge accumulated over 6 years of operation of the facility, answering all the questions of the participants. Two types of photovoltaic modules are used at the SPP: monocrystalline (manufactured by Germany “Solar World”) and polycrystalline (manufactured by China “Jinko Solar”). The total capacity is 100 MW. These SPP make a significant contribution to the increase in electricity generation in the southern energy-deficient region of the country.

Inspired young and practicing specialists continued the expedition and flew to Nur-Sultan and next visited the Nura SPP in the Akmola region. This is the first foreign project of the Hevel GC with a capacity of 100 MW, implemented on the principle of a full cycle using Russian and foreign equipment. Here, the participants learned more about existing innovative technologies, such as integrated solar tracking systems (uniaxial trackers), heterostructural two-sided solar modules of Russian manufacture, which thanks to the back side provide additional energy generation and the use of "smart" inverters to convert direct current from solar modules to alternating and process control via WiFi network.

SPP "Saran" in the Karaganda region became the next point of visit in the route of the expedition. This project was implemented by an international team of experts and investors from Germany, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Evgeniy Grebennikov, CEO of SES Saran LLP, welcomed the participants and told about the existing legislative framework in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the history and construction of one of the most powerful SPP in the country, about the conducted analyses of the region and the payback of such projects and the relevance of choosing a profession in the field of renewable energy. The installed capacity of the SPP is 100 MW. Innovative technologies are used at the facility - glass-glass solar panels, a Barrier system along the fence. The company also contributes to the development of human capital and the city of Saran. It should be noted that Schneider Electric inverter stations are used here with the use of “smart" solutions that can automatically detect breakdowns and check the availability of spare parts in stock and order them. The generated electricity is supplied to the common grid and thereby reduces the shortage of electricity. Annual electricity generation is about 160 million kWh

Then it was the turn of the "First WPP" near the city of Yerementau. The capacity of the Yerementau WPP is 45 MW, the volume of electricity production amounted to 159 million kWh in 2020. 22 wind power plants manufactured by Fuhrlaender Wind Technology (Germany) with a capacity of 2.05 MW each are installed at the site of the wind farm. The wind farm significantly contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gases, the engineering and technical staff consists of local specialists, it is planned to expand it to 300 MW, and the station is located in the most favorable place according to experts.

The next point of visit was the Landfill of renewable energy sources of “NURIS" PI. This is a good place for innovations in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency for young people and everyone. Here you can see how photovoltaic panels, solar collectors, hybrid wind generators, ground heat pump, as well as see an energy-efficient Shell Yurt house with autonomous energy supply based on renewable energy sources.

The Astana EXPO - 2017 WPP was remembered by everyone for an interesting discussion and a developed infrastructure. WPP in the Kostomar settlement, Akmola region with a capacity of 100 MW with 29 wind turbines manufactured by Vestas (Denmark) was implemented by TSATEK Green Energy LLP . It is worth noting that all installed wind generators are adapted to the cold climatic conditions of the region, and these turbines also use a full-cycle converter, which contributes to the best integration into the national energy system and has a full-scale converter system. The participants were given a detailed tour of the administrative and dispatch complex and the territory of the wind power plant.

In conclusion, the participants visited the world's first mosque with zero energy consumption "Allanyn guli - the Flower of the Almighty" in Nur-Sultan. The uniqueness of the mosque lies in the fact that this mosque uses only renewable energy sources. It is surrounded by solar panels, the total area of which is 1.2 thousand square meters. They provide electricity, and all the surplus can be sold to the city.

Feedback from participants:

An informative trip that allowed us to analyze the existing renewable energy facilities in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan and acquire international connections that facilitate further cooperation with experts in the field of renewable energy from Central Asia. For the sustainable development of Kyrgyzstan, it is very important to adopt the experience of the neighboring republic, which has already set a course for green energy.

-        Participation in the educational trip gave, first of all, the opportunity to get acquainted, talk, exchange ideas with people who have a similar interest, with those who are experts in their field. Secondly, the cultural exchange, the exchange of visions of participants from different countries of Central Asia for me personally made it clear that we all have the same problem (climate change), and that working together only brings us closer to solving this problem. Thirdly, the trip gave me an unforgettable experience both professionally and in life.

-        An informative and interesting trip, which gives an opportunity not only to expand professional horizons in the field of renewable energy, but also to make acquaintances with young specialists in various fields of Central Asian countries. Thanks to RETrip2021, it was possible to visit renewable energy facilities throughout Kazakhstan, listen to incomparably useful advice taken during their design, construction, installation and operation. And also to learn about existing problems in real practice and ways to solve them, which gives extensive knowledge in the field of green energy, new ideas and inspiration. Under the guidance of professional organizers, this trip unites all participants into a cohesive unified team, which gives prospects for further professional cooperation and friendly relations.

-        For me, participation in this educational trip gave me the opportunity to improve my experience and skills in the field of development and promotion of renewable energy, as its purpose was a real and practical acquaintance with functioning facilities based on green technologies existing in Kazakhstan. As you know, the Republic of Kazakhstan has extensive experience in the implementation and operation of renewable energy systems (the total volume of electricity production due to renewable energy in Kazakhstan exceeds 1.5 GW), which will allow us to adopt and implement the experience I have gained in our country in the future through cooperation at various levels. In the future, I want to develop cooperation with international companies, world leaders in the field of green technologies, in particular with Kazakhstan to increase the share of electricity production due to renewable energy in Tajikistan.

 We are confident that Renewable Energy Trip contributes to the development of competencies of specialists and students, professional development and dissemination of knowledge in the field of energy efficiency, renewable energy and alternative energy sources. Next year we plan to add a large number of power plants, including outside Kazakhstan, and enrich the program of the trip with discussions of new forms and methods of energy production and storage, including hydrogen energy, pumped storage stations, a structure for the development of electric transport.

Dana Zhunisova