In 2024, Kazakhstan's electricity sector is predominantly driven by fossil fuels, accounting for more than 80% of the total electricity consumption, with coal contributing over half and gas making up almost 28%. In contrast, low-carbon energy sources like hydropower, wind, and solar provide a much smaller share, collectively totaling nearly 15%. Hydropower is the leading low-carbon source at approximately 9%, while wind and solar contribute around 4% and 2% respectively. Net imports play a minimal role in the country's electricity profile, comprising slightly over 1%. It is clear that while Kazakhstan has begun its journey towards cleaner energy, fossil fuels still dominate the energy landscape.
Is Electricity Growing in Kazakhstan?
Examining the trajectory of electricity consumption in Kazakhstan reveals a stagnant or slightly regressive trend. In 2024, the average electricity consumption per person was 5,802 kWh, which is less than the 1990 peak of 6,105 kWh per person, indicating a decrease of over 300 kWh. However, it's encouraging that the country's low-carbon electricity generation has shown improvement. In 2024, low-carbon electricity generation reached 855 kWh per person, surpassing the previous record set in 2023 by 147 kWh per person. This growth highlights a positive shift towards clean energy solutions, even as total electricity consumption has not yet surpassed past levels.
Suggestions
To further increase its low-carbon electricity generation, Kazakhstan can draw lessons from successful regions that have implemented effective strategies. Notably, regions like France and Slovakia have capitalized on nuclear energy, generating around two-thirds of their electricity from this low-carbon source. On the wind front, states such as Iowa and South Dakota generate a significant percentage of their electricity, over 50%, from wind energy. Kazakhstan can benefit greatly by adopting similar strategies, particularly by investing in nuclear and expanding its wind capacity. By following these examples and leveraging its vast landscapes suitable for solar energy, Kazakhstan can further enhance its clean electricity share while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
History
Historically, Kazakhstan has witnessed fluctuations in its low-carbon electricity generation, primarily through hydropower. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, hydropower generation experienced significant growth, although the mid-1990s saw a decline. Entering the 21st century, hydropower recovered, with notable increases in generation around 2000, 2010, and a substantial rise in 2016. In recent years, there has been an encouraging boost in both solar and wind energy. Solar energy saw a marked rise in 2020, while wind energy gained momentum in 2021 and continued to grow in 2023 and 2024. These developments highlight Kazakhstan's continued efforts to enhance its low-carbon energy footprint, although there's much room for further progress towards a more sustainable energy future.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.