Caspian border countries’ electricity export to Europe

According to Energy Press, measures for economic integration among the countries of the Caspian Basin and Central Asia have accelerated. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are designing a green energy program to connect their electricity grid with the aim of exporting electricity to the European Union.

The energy ministers of the three countries announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding in early May to explore the potential of joint export of electricity using wind and solar energy. Kazakhstan also plans to increase its hydropower generation capacity. In describing the cooperation plans, this tripartite memorandum foresees the construction of a high voltage cable in the Caspian Sea bed. According to Kazakh Energy Minister Almasdam Satkaliev, technical specifications for such a transmission line have already been designed.

In the statement of the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan, quoting the minister of this country, it is said: A proposed business model is designed for the development of international transmission corridors (financing, revenue flow and ownership) and for the sale of green energy to EU countries. .

These three countries have not wasted time in pursuing this program. On May 10, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy said: Feasibility studies are underway. The European Union has expressed interest in purchasing clean electricity. In the feasibility studies, the financial and construction details of the project will be reviewed and the initial estimate will be prepared by the end of the year. It is still too early to estimate the cost of this project or the amount of exported electricity. However, the Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan has said that we are talking about a large amount of investment.

The goal of exporting electricity to the European Union is fully consistent with the plans unveiled by these three countries to develop renewable energy production capacity in the coming years.

The main driver of electricity exports is Uzbekistan, which plans to produce 20 GW of power generation capacity through renewable sources by 2030. Achieving this goal will increase the country’s renewable energy production capacity to 27 gigawatts. As of April, the government has signed contracts to develop wind and solar facilities that are expected to generate 12 gigawatts of electricity. Uzbekistan signed contracts for another 6 gigawatts in May.