ORIGINAL PAPER
Assessment of wind energy potential of Kazakhstan and enhancing wind turbine efficiency
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Satbayev University, Kazakhstan
2
QazNRG Group LLP, Kazakhstan
Submission date: 2025-08-26
Final revision date: 2025-09-29
Acceptance date: 2025-10-09
Publication date: 2026-06-29
Polityka Energetyczna – Energy Policy Journal 2026;29(2):5-32
KEYWORDS
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ABSTRACT
The study examined Kazakhstan’s wind energy potential and made recommendations to improve wind turbine efficiency for remote power supply. The study includes Wind Atlas data analysis, Weibull distribution wind model modeling, and technical, economic, and socio-economic assessment. The study found that Kazakhstan has vast wind energy potential, making wind power a possible solution for autonomous power supply in distant locations, where 90% of households are not connected to power grids. According to the Wind Atlas data and the Weibull distribution model, 80% of the country’s territory has average annual wind speeds of 3–5 m/s, suitable for small wind turbines (15–100 kW), while the Almaty and Kyzylorda regions have speeds above 8 m/s, which provides sufficient specific wind energy density for large wind farms with an installed capacity factor of 40–50%. WindPro and the Climate Forecast System version 2 (CFSv2) database (2014–2024) confirmed that optimizing turbine placement following SP RK 4.04-112-2014 can minimize wake effect. Wind turbine efficiency increases with local adaptation, including lightweight composite materials and control technologies, according to the study. The study also underlined the potential for hybrid wind-solar systems with storage to adjust for seasonal changes and stabilize energy supply in energy-deficient locations. One socio-economic hurdle is the lack of human resources and local turbine production, which raises logistics costs. The government plans to boost wind energy development, but subsidies, training programs, and localization of production are needed for sustainable growth, according to the report.
FUNDING
This research has been funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Grant No. BR21882294.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The Authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
METADATA IN OTHER LANGUAGES:
Polish
Ocena potencjału energetyki wiatrowej Kazachstanu i zwiększenie efektywności turbin wiatrowych
odnawialne źródła energii, elektrownie wiatrowe, efekt cienia aerodynamicznego, zasilanie odległych obszarów, moc teoretyczna, gęstość właściwa, model dystrybucji
W ramach badania przeanalizowano potencjał energetyki wiatrowej w Kazachstanie oraz sformułowano zalecenia dotyczące poprawy wydajności turbin wiatrowych w kontekście zasilania odległych obszarów. Badanie obejmowało analizę danych z Atlasu Wiatrów, modelowanie rozkładu Weibulla oraz ocenę techniczną, ekonomiczną i społeczno-ekonomiczną. Badanie wykazało, że Kazachstan dysponuje ogromnym potencjałem energetyki wiatrowej, co sprawia, że energia wiatrowa może stanowić rozwiązanie w zakresie autonomicznego zasilania w odległych lokalizacjach, gdzie 90% gospodarstw domowych nie jest podłączonych do sieci energetycznej. Zgodnie z danymi z Atlasu Wiatrów oraz modelem rozkładu Weibulla 80% terytorium kraju charakteryzuje się średnią roczną prędkością wiatru wynoszącą 3–5 m/s, odpowiednią dla małych turbin wiatrowych (15–100 kW), podczas gdy regiony Ałmaty i Kyzylorda charakteryzują się prędkościami powyżej 8 m/s, co zapewnia wystarczającą gęstość energii wiatru dla dużych farm wiatrowych o współczynniku wykorzystania mocy zainstalowanej wynoszącym 40–50%. WindPro oraz baza danych Climate Forecast System w wersji 2 (CFSv2) (2014–2024) potwierdziły, że optymalizacja rozmieszczenia turbin zgodnie z normą SP RK 4.04-112-2014 może zminimalizować efekt cienia aerodynamicznego. Według badania wydajność turbin wiatrowych wzrasta wraz z lokalną adaptacją, w tym dzięki zastosowaniu lekkich materiałów kompozytowych i technologii sterowania. W badaniu podkreślono również potencjał hybrydowych systemów wiatrowych i słonecznych z magazynowaniem energii, które pozwalają dostosować się do zmian sezonowych i ustabilizować dostawy energii w miejscach dotkniętych niedoborem energii. Jedną z przeszkód społeczno-gospodarczych jest brak zasobów ludzkich i lokalnej produkcji turbin, co podnosi koszty logistyczne. Rząd planuje pobudzić rozwój energetyki wiatrowej, jednak według raportu do zapewnienia zrównoważonego wzrostu niezbędne są dotacje, programy szkoleniowe oraz lokalizacja produkcji.
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