Kazakhstan to increase electricity supply in Almaty region
By Aynur Jafarova
A new solar power plant established with a capacity of 2 MW in Kapshagay (southern Kazakhstan) is fully ready to play in a role in supplying electricity to the grid of the Almaty region, Chairman of the Board of Samruk-Green Energy LLP Zhomart Mominbayev said.
"The station is ready for use and the automated system for monitoring and metering of energy (ASMME) settings are now being finalized," he told Trend Agency. "The testing process of ASMME finished a few days ago. Everything is working properly."
Mominbayev also noted the company has started to conclude some agreements with the electricity distribution companies.
"As soon as the contracts are signed, the station will start providing the grid with electricity," he said. "That is, from our point of view, everything is going on smoothly."
The main objectives of the plant's construction with a capacity of 2 MW are increasing the share of renewable energy sources and reducing the use of hydrocarbon energy resources for power generation.
Electricity production is implemented by 7,995 solar panels, 70 percent of which are installed on fixed and 30 percent on the sun-tracking constructions. In order to convert the direct current produced by solar panels into an alternating current, the plant uses 178 inverters. The planned annual production of electricity is 3,600,000 kWh.
In 2014, the plant was tasking with running the capital of Samruk-Green Energy LLP for future operation and maintenance.
Mominbayev went on to add that Kazakhstan is considering the issue of construction of some small hydropower plants on the rivers.
"Currently, the government is planning to study the construction of five hydropower plants on the rivers flowing through the territory of Kazakhstan. They are Ili, Shelek, Syr Darya, Black Irtysh, and Charyn," he noted.
The construction of small hydropower plants in Kazakhstan is expedient as the country's rivers enjoy significant hydropower capacity.
"Currently, the issue of constructing a cascade of a hydropower plant on the Shelek River is under consideration," Mominbayev stressed.
Energy-rich Kazakhstan is currently looking for ways to use renewable energy sources. In late January, an action plan was adopted on the development of renewable energy sources for a period from 2013 to 2020.
Experts believe that Kazakhstan has to turn to alternative energy sources by 2030, as the traditional sources are being exhausted and their prices are rising. They say that about 20-30 percent of domestically consumed energy can be saved by using alternative energy resources.
According to a recently adopted concept for a transition to the 'green economy', in case of high domestic prices for natural gas, the energy basket of the country will comprise 11 percent of wind and solar energy sources while the share of nuclear power will be 8 percent, hydropower 10 percent, gas 21 percent and coal 49 percent by 2030.
Given Kazakhstan's natural conditions, it is clear that the most promising alternative energy sector is wind power generation. Studies conducted in the Central Asian state's regions showed that wind power generation has a vast capacity.