Is solar energy a viable option in Kazakhstan?

Solar energy Kazakhstan has areas with high insolation that could be suitable for solar power, particularly in the south of the country, receiving between 2200 and 3000 hours of sunlight per year, which equals 1300-1800 kW/m² annually . Both concentrated solar thermal and solar photovoltaic (PV) have potential.

Is there a solar PV plant in Kazakhstan?

Both concentrated solar thermal and solar photovoltaic (PV) have potential. There is a 2 MW solar PV plant near Almaty and six solar PV plants are currently under construction in the Zhambyl province of southern Kazakhstan with a combined capacity of 300 MW .

How much solar power does Kazakhstan have?

In just five short years, solar power capacity has catapulted to 300 megawatts nationwide, and if you add other renewables like wind and hydropower, that number exceeds 700 megawatts, enough power to supply around 200,000 families in Kazakhstan. To understand just how remarkable this is, you have to know the context.

Why is Kazakhstan developing solar energy technologies?

Kazakhstan is developing solar energy technologies, namely production of photovoltaic modules using local silicon. As Kazakhstan is rich in silicon (85 million tons), production of silicon solar batteries on the domestic market was started (Sim, 2015).

What is Kazakhstan's First Solar power plant?

The plant is to produce solar cells using Kazakhstan’s silicon. The designed capacity of photovoltaic wafers is 50 MW with a potential to increase up to 100 MW. In 2012, the first solar power station, “Otar,” that generates 0.5 MW of energy, was also built in the Zhambyl region.

Can solar power drive Kazakhstan's Energy Transition?

However, Kazakhstan’s solar ambitions do not fully tap into its potential, and the technology could play a far larger role in the country’s energy transition due to its low cost and flexibility. The focus now is on leveraging solar’s comparative advantages to drive forward Kazakhstan’s decarbonisation and harness its significant solar resources.