Masdar and Samruk-Kazyna have signed an agreement to explore the development of renewable energy and BESS projects in Kazakhstan. The announcement was made during the Kazakhstan-UAE Business Forum held in Astana. The project aims to provide up to 500 megawatts (MW) of continuous renewable power along with battery energy storage systems (BESS) of up to 2 gigawatts (GW) in capacity.
Masdar is already working on a 1GW wind power project in Kazakhstan, which includes a 600 megawatt-hour (MWh) BESS. This project, located in the Jambyl region, is among the largest wind projects in Central Asia.
The agreement was signed in the presence of senior officials from both countries, including UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan Al Jaber and CEO of Samruk-Kazyna Nurlan Zhakupov. The energy ministers from both sides also exchanged official documents confirming the ratification of a previous government-to-government deal to support the wind farm development.
Masdar had earlier entered into agreements with W Solar, Qazaq Green Power (QGP), and the Kazakhstan Investment Development Fund to implement the 1GW wind project. A power purchase agreement and investment agreement were signed at COP29 in Baku. Construction of the wind farm is expected to start in 2026.
Kazakhstan plans to produce 15% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030, increasing to 50% by 2050. These goals are aligned with the country’s broader energy strategy and its plans to reach carbon neutrality by 2060.
In addition to its projects in Kazakhstan, Masdar has a broader energy presence across Central Asia, including in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. The company is also building a solar and storage project in Abu Dhabi, combining a 5.2GW solar PV plant with 19GWh of battery storage to provide 1GW of steady power daily.
