In a bid to reduce its reliance on hydrocarbons and embrace green energy, Turkmenistan seeks significant investments to unlock its export potential in the renewable energy sector. While official announcements signal a shift towards cleaner energy, local experts emphasize the need for substantial funding to make this transition possible.
Azerbaijani Proposal: A Cross-Caspian Energy Cable
One recent proposal from Azerbaijani specialists caught attention, suggesting the laying of an underwater cable from Turkmenistan across the Caspian Sea. This ambitious project aims to jointly supply solar and wind-generated electricity to the European market.
ADB Study: Solar Energy Hub for Central Asia
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) conducted a study that highlighted Turkmenistan's capacity to become a solar energy hub for Central Asia. They proposed using integrated solar combined cycle systems, which employ solar thermal energy to generate steam, driving turbines initially using gaseous steam. The country's high solar radiation offers the potential to produce electricity at an incredibly low cost, between 5 to 6 cents per kilowatt-hour.
Potential for Solar Energy Over Gas
Experts estimate that this solar-based approach could generate up to 20 times more electricity compared to the current natural gas production. Additionally, it presents an opportunity to address the electricity needs of remote communities in the short term.
Collaborating with the UAE
To realize its green energy ambitions, Turkmenistan is seeking collaboration with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Abu Dhabi Development Fund (ADFD) previously allocated $25 mn for a 10 megawatt solar-wind power plant in the Kara Kum Desert. The implementation of the project was entrusted to a Turkiye-based "Chalik Energy", which announced the construction of eco-villages with these funds. Its opening is scheduled for the first half of 2024. The hybrid plant is expected to be powered by a 7-megawatt solar power plant and two wind turbines of 1.5 megawatts each.
PwC Report: Potential for 100% Clean Renewable Energy
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) released a special report suggesting a potential scenario where Turkmenistan could achieve 100% clean renewable energy sources (RES) by 2050.
“In order for the country to become a significant export player in the renewable energy market, significant injections are needed,” said an economist working for one of the UN structures.
The Path to a Green Future
Since the Societ Era TUkrmenistan has had it mind set on establishing renewable energy sources considering that the country experiences 300 days of sunshine a year. As a result, the Sun Institute was opened at the Academy of Sciences. Scientists discovered that the sands of the Karakum desert contain high levels of silicon, an essential element needed for the production of solar panels.
In a USSR first, a local research and development team called Kvant (Quantumn in English) created and installed solar panels on the roof of a Latvian-made minibus, however, it did not make mass production.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, and while maintaining relative isolation from eh world, Turkmenistan successfully developed and installed autonomous solar-wind power stations capable of providing water and energy to remote regions, these projects, were small but successful.
Author: Eziz Boyarov
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