Kazakhstan’s ‘Green Economy’ Strategy: What barriers are hindering the success of Renewable Energy transition goals?

Abstract

This report will examine the policies implemented by Kazakhstan’s government to move toward renewable energy sources (RES) in the nation’s electric power production. These policies reflect the country’s commitment to the goals outlined within the Paris Agreement to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions and support the use of clean energy technologies. While Kazakhstan is currently largely dependent upon coal and natural gas for generating electrical power, the government has taken steps to encourage the use of RES. Specifically, the country introduced feed-in tariffs for RES in 2014 and competitive renewable energy auctions in 2018. Using Painuly’s (2001) hierarchical barrier model, this research identified twelve key obstacles limiting the growth of RES in Kazakhstan. Based on the responses from stakeholders, which were measured on a Likert scale ranging from one to five, this research evaluated how each obstacle was perceived. A qualitative methodology based on semistructured interviews with eleven different stakeholders utilized grounded theory to analyze their perspectives. The data indicates that technical barriers, specifically outdated energy infrastructure, are viewed as being the greatest hurdles facing RES growth in Kazakhstan (average rating of 4.55/5). Finally, the paper outlines several policy options designed to address these barriers and ultimately contribute to the realization of the country’s stated objective regarding its transition to a cleaner source of energy.