QAZAQ GREEN. Kazakhstan has launched its first full-cycle green hydrogen pilot project at the Atyrau branch of KMG Engineering, a subsidiary of KazMunayGas. The launch took place during the IV International Seminar on Hydrogen Energy.

The complex operates on a simple and environmentally clean principle: solar panels generate electricity that splits water into oxygen and hydrogen. When used as fuel, hydrogen produces only water vapour — with zero carbon dioxide emissions. The project is being implemented in line with presidential directives under Kazakhstan's Carbon Neutrality Strategy through 2060.

The first phase began in June 2025 with the installation of a 200 kW solar power plant comprising 336 panels, generating annual savings of approximately KZT 12 million. The current phase sees the launch of a containerised electrolyser unit that completes the full cycle — from solar energy generation to hydrogen production and its use for heating and power supply at the branch. Going forward, the site will serve as a testing ground for hydrogen storage, transportation and hybrid system applications.

A separate breakthrough came from a team of Kazakhstani scientists led by Dr. Saule Zholdayakova at the hydrogen technology laboratory. The team developed the first samples of titanium-iron alloys — metal hydrides — capable of storing hydrogen at room temperature. This makes hydrogen transportation safer and more cost-effective, eliminating the need for complex cooling systems or ultra-high pressure. The research has received international recognition.

The forum also saw the presentation of Kazakhstan's Digital Hydrogen Atlas — a tool that allows investors to calculate the cost of green and blue hydrogen production at any location in the country in real time.

The seminar brought together leading experts from the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, France, the United States, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, as well as representatives of Kazakhstani government bodies and world-class universities.