Clean energy challenges and innovation opportunities in Kazakhstan
Xenarios S. Sembayeva A. Tsani S. Orazagaliyev S. Ansaganova Z.
1 November 2024Institute of Physics
Environmental Research Communications
2024#6Issue 11
Kazakhstan has pledged to transition to a low-carbon economy by implementing national policies and strategies that promote clean energy innovation. However, Kazakhstan is still falling short of its expected targets for energy transition, and there is a lack of knowledge regarding the countrys challenges and opportunities for clean energy development. Towards this end, the current study identifies and assesses the enablers and barriers related to clean energy innovation in Kazakhstan. Using the combination ofSWOTanalysis, survey data from 41 experts and the DEMATELdecision support tool, we evaluated the key factors affecting Kazakhstans clean energy innovation and their implications for energy transition. Assessment results show that the immature business environment, underpinned by technological, institutional, and socioeconomic factors, is perceived as a high-impact constraint for clean energy innovation and green finance deployment in Kazakhstan. Skilled labour shortages, high reliance on hydrocarbons and low retail energy prices are significant challenges to Kazakhstans clean energy innovation. The low-profit margin and high investment risk in clean energy projects are identified as transition barriers in the power and energy-intensive industries. In contrast, Kazakhstans endowments of resources critical for developing clean energy technologies (rare earth metals, uranium, gas) and the potential of low-carbon investments (e.g. carbon storage) are perceived as prominent enablers of clean energy innovation. Results are consistent across expert subgroups (academia, industry, NGOs, etc). Findings call for policy support to modern and attractive business environments, capacity, and human capital development. The findings can provide helpful insights for countries in Central Asia and beyond with similar socioeconomic structures that aim for a timely energy transition.
Central Asia , clean energy technologies , energy policy , energy transition , innovation
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CSIRO Environment, Canberra, ACT, Australia
Graduate School of Public Policy, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
SDSN Kazakhstan, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Department of Economics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
Development Bank of Kazakhstan, Astana, Kazakhstan
CSIRO Environment
Graduate School of Public Policy
SDSN Kazakhstan
Department of Economics
Development Bank of Kazakhstan
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