Renewables
Kazakhstan demand met by hybrid renewable energy plants
Hybrid wind, solar and battery installations could deliver up to 90 percent of Kazakhstan's electricity demand at competitive costs.
Key points
- Ember reports hybrid renewable plants can supply up to 90 percent of demand below $60/MWh.
- Kazakhstan's electricity demand grew 16 percent over the last five years amid ageing coal infrastructure.
- Combining wind and solar addresses seasonal generation gaps during winter demand spikes.
What happened
According to a report published by energy think tank Ember and reported by pv magazine, hybrid power systems combining wind, solar and battery storage can efficiently supply up to 90 percent of Kazakhstan's typical electricity demand profile. The research indicates that this power can be delivered at a cost below $60 per megawatt-hour.
Kazakhstan faces an urgent need for new power capacity as electricity demand has risen by 16 percent over the past five years. Coal continues to dominate the national electricity mix, providing 62 percent of generation in 2025. However, these coal facilities have an average age exceeding 50 years, resulting in frequent equipment failures and 891 reported incidents between January and July.
The Ember study evaluated 15 distinct sites across the country's three power zones, running 1,875 simulations over a 30-year project lifetime. The analysis demonstrated that top configurations could consistently meet between 70 percent and 90 percent of hourly demand at an average delivered cost of $56 per megawatt-hour, which compares favourably against new coal generation costs ranging from $70 to $170 per megawatt-hour.
Senior Battery Analyst at Ember, Kostantsa Rangelova, noted in the pv magazine coverage that adding wind power significantly enhances solar-plus-storage projects. While solar is affordable and fast to construct, winter conditions in Kazakhstan often feature cloudy days that reduce solar output when demand peaks. Because wind resources are strongest during the winter months, pairing both technologies behind a single grid connection creates a balanced energy profile.
Why it matters
For energy investors and policy planners across emerging markets, the Kazakhstan study illustrates the viability of advanced hybrid renewable configurations in managing baseload requirements. According to World Bank figures from 2024, Kazakhstan maintains 100 percent electricity access and a per capita electricity consumption of 5,666.7 kWh, surpassing global averages. Fuel exports accounted for 54.5 percent of merchandise exports in 2025, according to World Bank data, highlighting the economic importance of optimising domestic energy systems as nations transition away from ageing fossil fuel infrastructure. Implementing procurement auctions that reward system flexibility can lower overall costs and maximise asset utilisation.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Renewables are the fastest-growing part of the world’s energy system. The COP28 goal is to triple capacity by 2030, and solar mini-grids are the fastest route to power for millions of people without electricity.
11.0% of electricity in Kazakhstan was renewable in 2021Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
