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Regional approach can power up Central Asia’s energy transition, says Ember report
New analysis from global energy think tank Ember shows that Azerbaijan and its neighbours in Central Asia and the Caucasus have much to gain from enhanced regional collaboration to scale up renewable power.
The analysis comes on Energy Day, as the Azerbaijani COP29 presidency launches a pledge for green energy corridors.
“A regional approach can power up Central Asia’s energy transition,” said Ufuk Alparslan, Ember’s Regional Lead for Turkey, Central Asia and the Caucasus.
“Enhanced interconnection can make the most of the region’s renewable potential – from the wind-rich north to the sun-drenched south – helping to boost energy security with a plentiful supply of cheap electricity.”
At present, most of the region is reliant on fossil fuels for electricity.
Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan generate the majority of their electricity from gas, while Kazakhstan principally relies on coal.
Only Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Georgia – all hydro-rich countries – generate the majority of their electricity from renewables.
But the region has huge untapped renewables potential, as revealed by Ember’s analysis.
Central Asia and the Caucasus benefit from a diversity in geography that provides a complementary profile of renewables – strong wind potential in the north, solar in the south and hydro in the east around the region’s two largest rivers.
The planned green energy corridors connecting Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey and the EU could bring together these diverse renewable sources, delivering low-cost, sustainable power across borders.
Governments across the region are starting to raise their renewables ambition.
Uzbekistan generates 89% of its electricity from gas, but it is targeting 40% renewables in the electricity mix by 2030.
Azerbaijan aims to reach a share of 30% renewables in installed capacity by 2030, up from 20% in 2023.
Coal-dependent Kazakhstan aims to generate 15% of its electricity from renewables by 2030 (excluding large hydro).
However, the report flags that the region’s aging Soviet-era grid will require significant investment and a commitment to wider regional cooperation to support the necessary large-scale renewable integration.
“Azerbaijan has the potential to become a green energy hub linking Central Asia and Europe by increasing its ambitions and taking a leading role in regional cooperation towards energy transition.
Turkey can further support this vision as a key land bridge by enhancing its grid connection with Azerbaijan through Nakhchivan,” said Alparslan. |
