Growth and Challenges of New Energy Projects: Practices and Challenges in Central Asia — A Case Study of Kazakhstan

Abstract

Against the backdrop of increasingly severe global climate change, energy transition has become a critical path to achieving sustainable development. The signing of the Paris Agreement and the adoption of carbon neutrality targets by various countries signify a profound transformation in the global energy landscape. As a key node of the Belt and Road Initiative, Central Asia is endowed with abundant wind, solar and hydropower resources, offering huge potential for the development of new energy projects.

As the largest economy in Central Asia, Kazakhstan’s progress in new energy development exerts an important demonstrative effect on the entire region. According to data from the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan, by the end of 2025, the installed capacity of renewable energy in Kazakhstan reached approximately 3.5 gigawatts, and renewable energy accounted for 7% of the country’s total power generation, a notable increase from 3% in 2020. The government of Kazakhstan has set ambitious goals: to increase the share of renewable energy to 50% by 2050 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Therefore, researching the growth and challenges of new energy projects in Kazakhstan is of important theoretical and practical value for promoting green energy development in Central Asia.