QAZAQ GREEN. The III International Business Festival ‘QazaqGreenFest – 2024’, dedicated to green energy, kicks off in Borovoe, and will last two days under the slogan “Accepting the Challenges of the Present - Together Towards a Sustainable Future". The event is organized by the Qazaq Green RES Association in collaboration with the Kazakhstan Electricity Association. The event's partners are the UN Development Programme, the German Society for International Cooperation, HUAWEI, ACWA Power, Total Energies, Sany, Jinko Solar, Unicase, and Goldbeck Solar. The festival is supported by the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan leads Central Asia in environmental commitment, being the first in the region to ratify the Paris Agreement and adopt the Carbon Neutrality Strategy until 2060. The country has significant potential for wind and solar energy development.

At COP 28, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev supported the UN’s call to preserve the environment for future generations and emphasized the country's commitment to the Partnership for a Just Energy Transition. He highlighted the need for increased funding for climate programs and the importance of combating climate change, especially in Central Asia.

The introduction of a carbon tax by EU countries will impact the cost and competitiveness of export goods. To mitigate this, Kazakh enterprises need to start decarbonizing and transitioning to alternative technologies. President Tokayev has mandated that renewable energy sources should constitute 15% of the country’s energy mix by 2030.

Data from the Ministry of Energy shows that in 2023, renewable energy sources (RES) accounted for about 6% of Kazakhstan's total electricity production. The country has 148 RES facilities with a combined installed capacity of 2,903.54 MW, including wind, solar, hydroelectric, and bioenergy. Plans are also in place for the introduction of heat pumps, biofuel boilers, and excess heat utilization systems.

Integrating RES is crucial for decarbonizing the economy and increasing electrification across various sectors. While Kazakhstan is working to enhance its RES share, it faces challenges related to electricity grid development and legislative regulation. These issues will be addressed by key players in the renewable energy and power sectors at QazaqGreenFest 2024. The festival serves as a vital platform for experts to discuss the advancement of renewable energy in Kazakhstan.

The development of RES is seen as a transformative driver for the power industry, essential for ensuring the country’s energy security, promoting small-scale RES, and utilizing energy storage systems.