QAZAQ GREEN. Nurlan Kapenov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Qazaq Green Renewable Energy Sources (RES) Association, delivered a speech during the panel session at the Astana International Forum in Kazakhstan, titled "New Frontiers for Green Economic Transformation."

During his address, he discussed the outcomes of the II International Green Energy Business Festival, Qazaq Green Fest 2023, held in Borovoe.

 "Based on the festival results, we engaged with the entire market, involving approximately 400 stakeholders from various sectors. As a result, we have drafted a Charter, a declaration to the government, consisting of 11 questions, which can be found on our organization's website. Additionally, we have prepared a 12-minute film shedding light on coal-fired generation in Kazakhstan, exploring the future prospects and potential ways to avoid it," Nurlan Kapenov explained.

The Association recognizes significant untapped potential for small-scale energy generation in households, farms, and rural areas, estimated to be around 1-2 GW. Collaborating with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Kazakhstan for the past three years, they propose prioritizing and providing incentives for individuals, homeowners, farms, small businesses, and peasant farms to install renewable energy systems on their premises and generate electricity.

Nurlan Kapenov emphasized that without such incentives, it is more convenient for people to purchase electricity from the grid, given its low cost in Kazakhstan.

 "We suggest that the government streamline the process by implementing a one-stop-shop method for connection, eliminating the need for multiple bureaucratic procedures. Furthermore, we recommend offering subsidies for initial capital costs. By adopting subsidy programs similar to those implemented in other countries, or by implementing higher tariffs that allow excess energy to be sold back to the grid energy retailer, people will be encouraged to adopt small-scale energy generation. This level of support is crucial, and we have made significant progress with the assistance of the UNDP in promoting this system among the new parliamentary body. We remain hopeful that the government will adopt it," he concluded.