Kazakhstan and UAE launch one of Central Asia’s largest wind energy projects

Construction of a 1-gigawatt wind farm has begun in the Sarysu district of the Zhambyl region in Kazakhstan. The project also involves the creation of an energy storage system with a capacity of 600 megawatt-hours. This was reported by Kazinform, a partner of TV BRICS.

It is expected that this wind farm will help strengthen the energy security of the republic’s southern regions and increase the share of green electricity in its energy mix.

Kazakhstan is implementing the project in partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – the consortium’s group of investors and shareholders includes the UAE’s market leader in green energy. The total cost of the project is US$1.5 billion. The full commissioning of this giant wind farm is scheduled for the third quarter of 2029.

"The construction of a 1-gigawatt wind farm is one of the largest renewable energy projects not only in Kazakhstan but also in Central Asia. The fact that it is being implemented in the Zhambyl Region is a testament to the region’s high investment potential and the confidence placed in it by international partners," said Yerbol Karashukeyev, akim (head of the local administration) of the Zhambyl Region.

The technical uniqueness of the project lies in the synchronisation of wind power generation with a massive industrial battery. The station will be equipped with a state-of-the-art energy storage system with a capacity of 300 megawatts and a storage capacity of 600 megawatt-hours. The presence of such batteries solves the main problem facing renewable energy – the system will safely and reliably feed kilowatts into the main grid even when weather conditions change or during periods of peak evening demand.

It is noted that the power station will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2.5 million tonnes annually, enabling Kazakhstan to implement its national environmental action plan.

The Zhambyl Region remains one of Kazakhstan’s leaders in the development of renewable energy sources. There are currently 22 such facilities operating in the region, with a total capacity of 571.3 megawatts. By 2029, the region will see the addition of another wind farm with a capacity of 1 gigawatt. The implementation of all planned projects will increase the number of renewable energy facilities in the region to 24, with their combined capacity reaching 2.5 gigawatts.