Zhanar Nurkanova, Project manager, TGS-Energy LTD

Air pollution costs the economy of Kazakhstan more than $10.5 billion (according to the World Bank calculations for 2022). Conclusion: cheap coal is not so cheap if we consider all the consequences of its use.

Green energy presents not only the main measure to achieve carbon neutrality according to the Concept for transition of the Republic of Kazakhstan to "green economy", approved by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated May 30,2013 No. 577, but also significant savings of public funds and possibility of attracting investments to the economy (about $ 3-4 billion per annum). At the same time, the Concept planned that by 2030 the total installed capacity of NPP would be 1.5 GW, capacity of WFs -4.6 GW and SPP - 0.5 GW. However, in our opinion, the Concept did not pay due attention to need for digitalization of power industry.

At the same time, specialized it services can solve several tasks to improve reliability of the unified energy system of the Republic of Kazakhstan, reduce imbalances from RES, accelerate Kazakhstan’s transition to a green economy. To this end, green technologies center (GTC) LLP, which is part of TGS group of companies, specialising in digitalization, is currently developing a digital power plant project (digital power plant, DPP), GreenLight and Intech-forecast projects.

Analogues of DPP software already exist in the world, allowing many traditional stations significant reduction in operating and maintenance costs. General Electric was one of the first in the world to introduce digitalization at power plants and achieved significant results for 500 MW thermal power plant:

It is obvious that digitalization of renewable energy facilities will also contribute to their greater financial attractiveness both for investors and for operating personnel. The imbalances that renewable energy facilities create in the country's overall energy system is a task that needs to be solved on a large scale and promptly. One of the measures would be construction of power storage system (PSS), but currently Kazakhstan's economy is not ready for such technological solutions due to significant increase in costs of RES construction projects and, as a consequence, the need to increase tariffs.

High-qualityforecastingof electricity generation by RES facilities is a sufficiently effective step to minimize imbalances in the RES sector. In order to solve this problem, GTC, supported by Qazlnnovations, offered a domestic IT service - "InTech-Forecast", which:

■      provides convenient function of forecasting electricity generation by renewable energy facilities a day in advance;

■      Automates interaction of RES power plants personnel with the System Operator and FSC for RES;

■      Creates constantly learning pattern of artificial intelligence based on historical weather data and electricity production volumes;

■      Increases the efficiency of the Unified Electric Power System of Kazakhstan by forming accurate daily forecasts and minimizes their negative impact on the reliability of UES of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In addition to internal tools that contribute to development of renewable energy industry, it is also important to understand the loyalty of Kazakhstanis to transition to green economy and their awareness of environmental issues.

According to my survey, almost 86% of respondents, most of whom are urban residents aged 30 to 60, realize renewable energy as environmentally friendly alternative to coal-fired power plants and 89% believe that production of clean electricity should increase.

77% of the total number of respondents would use electricity from renewable energy sources in their households, 35% see business opportunities in renewable sources and 36% would charge their electric car with green energy. 78% of those who support renewable energy believe that green energy cost should decrease.

As for the willingness to pay extra for green energy, percentage of those who want to "prove their loyalty in practice" decreases but does not deprive them of optimism - 72%.

The above statistics show that there are enough people willing to voluntarily support Kazakhstan’s transition to green energy and this gives us the opportunity to open another channel of investment in this industry.

Another IT initiative of GTC is the GreenLight service, which provides an opportunity for every citizen of Kazakhstan to buy green energy through an application in a smartphone, making their conscious choice in favor of the country's ecology. Moreover, it aims to convey the climate change and air pollution issues to the public.

PRESENTATION OF GREENLIGHT PROJECT AT POWEREXPO ALMATY 2022

In addition to opening up new investment opportunities, GreenLight is a positive factor in expressing active citizen position in environmental issues by our compatriots. Every citizen will be able to have their own levers of influence on ecological scenario of Kazakhstan. Today is the time to offer solutions that overcome obstacles and create additional growth factors for the renewable energy industry. Digitalization, which has become independent industry and gained its own independent professional holiday this year, celebrated on November 10, can make a significant contribution to further development of renewable energy projects in Kazakhstan and Central Asian countries.