Kazakhstan, Germany expands development of renewable energy sources

• 45GW energy complex due in Kazakhstan
• Wind, solar to produce renewable hydrogen
• Germany seeking global import route

LONDON (ICIS)–Kazakhstan and Germany held a meeting on 31 October where the two countries discussed expanding several different topics, including the development of renewable energy sources, the Kazakhstan government reported.

“Prime minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov held a meeting with German federal minister Annalena Baerbock, who arrived in Kazakhstan on a working visit. The sides discussed expansion of mutual trade turnover, development of renewable energy sources and logistics infrastructure, investment cooperation, as well as exchanged views on topical issues of the international agenda.”

Specifically discussed was the 45GW energy complex of both wind farms and solar power plants to produce renewable hydrogen.

Smailov said “I think that our country has all the potential to become one of the leading centres of green [renewable] hydrogen production on a global scale.”

Baerbock confirmed that Germany will open an Office of Hydrogen Diplomacy in Astana under the auspices of the German Society for International Cooperation.

According to the German National Hydrogen Strategy, Germany expects hydrogen demand in the country to be 90-110TWh by 2030, but has a target of only about 14TWh of renewable hydrogen production, with the rest of the gap set to be made up with imports from neighbouring countries as well as being shipped in from other global regions.