As of 2024, Kazakhstan's electricity consumption heavily relies on fossil fuels, with more than half of its electricity being generated from coal, making up approximately 55%. Gas contributes almost 28% to the electricity mix, bringing the total share of fossil energy to over 84%. On the low-carbon front, clean electricity such as hydropower, wind, and solar make up around 15% of the total electricity consumption. Hydropower is the leading low-carbon source, accounting for nearly 9.5%, followed by wind at almost 4% and solar at close to 2%. Additionally, Kazakhstan also meets a small portion of its electricity needs through net imports, which account for slightly over 1%. The reliance on fossil fuels suggests significant potential for shifting towards more sustainable energy solutions.
Is Electricity Growing in Kazakhstan?
Despite global trends toward increased electricity demand, Kazakhstan's per capita electricity consumption has shown a notable decrease from its peak levels. Currently, the per capita electricity consumption stands at 5802 kWh, a decline of 303 kWh from the 1990 record of 6105 kWh. Though overall electricity consumption remains below past highs, it is encouraging to observe growth in low-carbon electricity. It has reached 855 kWh per capita, marking a noticeable increase of 147 kWh compared to the record set in 2023. This trend indicates a positive move towards cleaner energy solutions, but the nation still faces challenges from its dependency on fossil fuels that hurt climate goals.
Suggestions
To boost its share of low-carbon electricity, Kazakhstan can look to successful regions around the world. France and Slovakia exemplify the effectiveness of nuclear power, with nuclear energy contributing up to 69% and 64% of their electricity, respectively. Kazakhstan currently does not have nuclear power in its electricity mix, and developing this sector could substantially decrease dependence on fossil energy. For wind power, regions such as Iowa and Denmark harness wind for over 60% and 57% of their electricity needs. Kazakhstan has made strides in wind energy lately, yet further investments could take advantage of its vast steppe regions. Solar power also presents tremendous growth potential, as seen in countries like Lebanon and Nevada, where solar projects contribute close to a third of their electricity. By emulating these regions, Kazakhstan could efficiently broaden its clean energy portfolio to advance sustainability and energy independence.
History
Kazakhstan's history of low-carbon electricity generation has seen periods of both stagnation and growth. In the late 1980s and mid-1990s, the nation saw incremental gains in hydropower, with slight annual increases until a downturn between 1995 and 1997. After some intermittent fluctuations, the 21st century witnessed positive trends with notable hydropower advancements around 2000 and 2010. Most recently, hydropower surged by 2.5 TWh in 2024, depicting strong recovery and growth. Wind energy took off in 2021, followed by substantial growth in 2023 and further augmentation in 2024. Meanwhile, solar power began contributing modestly in 2020. This historical overview underscores the potential for Kazakhstan to integrate more low-carbon electricity sources, especially as the country prepares for greater energy demands driven by technological advancement and electrification needs.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.