On December 7, a round table "achievements and challenges of development of RES sector in the Republic of Kazakhstan" was held, organized by Qazaq Green Association of Renewable Energy Sources and dedicated to the 5th anniversary of the Association. The round table was attended by deputies of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, representatives of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, representatives of the diplomatic corps, as well as the business community of the renewable energy sector.

RES sector is one of the youngest in our country. However, in a short period of development, the sector has demonstrated impressive results. Thousands of specialists work in the sector today: power engineers, engineers, builders, economists, civil servants, investors, scientists, analysts. According to the UNCTAD World Investment Report - 2023, foreign direct investment in renewable energy sources in 2015-2022 in the Republic of Kazakhstan amounted to 31% of the total volume of foreign direct investment, and our country entered the top 10 developing countries in attracting foreign direct investment in the renewable energy sector, along with such countries as Brazil, Chile, India, Egypt and others.

"In 2018, our country made a historic choice - the process of implementing renewable energy projects was changed from a system of fixed tariffs to auctions. This resulted in creation of the renewable energy market, which attracted more than 230 companies from 13 countries to auctions, foreign and domestic investments flowed into renewable energy projects. For the first 9 months of 2023, country generated almost 6% of electricity from renewable energy sources. Today, our auctions are recognized in the country and abroad, including by international organizations, as a fair and open mechanism for selecting winners, where the priority is given to the price and installed capacity of the project. This year, for example, we witnessed a record low price for wind energy- 10.38 tg / kWh for the construction of wind power plant with a capacity of 10,001 MW in the Abai region. And this is a great achievement!" said Nurlan Kapenov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Renewable Energy Association "Qazaq Green".

Currently, 141 renewable energy facilities (over 100 kW and excluding out-of-order facilities) with an installed capacity of 2,715.8 MW operate in the Republic:

55 wind power plant facilities with a capacity of 1,246.6 MW;

44 solar power plant facilities with a capacity of 1,197.83 MW;

39 hydroelectric power plants with a capacity of 269,605 MW;

3 biogas power plant facilities with a capacity of 1.77 MW.

According to the results of 9 months of 2023, the volume of electricity generated by renewable energy facilities amounted to 4.91 billion.kWh (WPP - 2,575 million kWh; SPP -1,571.9 million kWh; HPP - 760.9 million kWh; BioPP -2.25 million kWh) or5.97% of the total volume of electric energy production.

International organizations such as UNDP, USAID, as well as financial institutions (EBRD, ADB, EDB, Clean Technologies Fund, Green Climate Fund, etc.) work in the Republic of Kazakhstan on renewable energy, all of them have completed or ongoing projects in their portfolios. Global oil and gas companies ENI, Shell, Total are engaged in the implementation of renewable energy projects in different parts of our country.

Renewable Energy Association "Qazaq Green" is a key expert center for development of renewable energy sources in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Association was established in 2018 and celebrated its 5th anniversary this year. The main task of Qazaq Green is to assist in the development of renewable energy sector, participate in development of regulatory documents regulating the development of the renewable energy sector, awareness-raising work to promote the "green" economy, formation of renewable energy competencies in the corporate sector, consolidation of business community of the renewable energy sector.

Qazaq Green is the organizer of the International Business Festival on Renewable Energy Qazaq Green Fest, publishes the information and analytical magazine Qazaq Green, operates an online news portal on development of the "green" economy Qazaq Green, com, organizes business expeditions to renewable energy facilities, as well as teaches project implementation issues at the Renewable Energy School.

At the 28th Conference of the participants of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Renewable Energy Association "Qazaq Green" presented the first domestic voluntary carbon standard Qazaq Green Certificate Program. Private companies that are not part of the trade system of the Republic of Kazakhstan do not have the opportunity to confirm their commitment to the principles of ESG and cover their carbon footprint with carbon units. The Qazaq Green Certificate Program will allow individuals and corporations to contribute to the fight against climate change through the purchase of voluntary offset units, thereby confirming their commitment to the principles of ESG.

The Association's members include domestic and foreign investors, developers, engineering and design companies, equipment suppliers, consulting firms, and universities providing training in renewable energy specialities. The Association is accredited by the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, NCE RK "Atameken".