Assessment of wind energy potential of Kazakhstan and enhancing wind turbine efficiency

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.