The Use of Hydrogen as an Energy Storage Medium for Solving Challenges of the Water and Energy Complex of Central Asia
Abylaikhan Soltanayev, PhD student, Almaty University of Power Engineering and Telecommunications
Nursultan Usmanov, Analyst, EDB Centre for Infrastructure and Industrial Research (2021)
Nursultan Usmanov, Analyst, EDB Centre for Infrastructure and Industrial Research (2021)
The countries of Central Asia (CA) have significant technically exploited hydropower potential, estimated at 510.1 TWh/year, of which less than 10% is currently used. This potential varies considerably from country to country, depending on their water availability. Large arid and semi-arid plains in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan have minimal or even no hydropower potential. Mountainous regions of the east and southeast of CA, including Tajikistan (61.1% of the total potential), Kyrgyzstan (19.4%), and partly Kazakhstan (12.1%), are characterised by a large water supply due to heavy rains and snowfall, which explains their high hydropower potential.
For a long period, the efficient operation of the water and energy complex of the region was ensured by the Soviet model of cooperation, where the key element was the United Energy System of Central Asia (CA UES). The CA water and energy complex was formed and developed in a complex manner, as an important component of the united CA economic region. In accordance with this, plans for the management of water and energy resources in CA were developed and implemented, providing a special mechanism to compensate for costs and distribute benefits among the countries of the region. Most of the electricity generated by the Naryn (Syr Darya River basin) and Vakhsh (Amu Darya River basin) cascades of hydroelectric power stations (HPS) was transferred to neighbouring republics during the summer with irrigation water releases, and Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan received in return (from the united reserve material and technical resources) electricity, natural gas, coal and fuel oil, for the operation of their thermal power plants in the autumn-winter seasons.
For a long period, the efficient operation of the water and energy complex of the region was ensured by the Soviet model of cooperation, where the key element was the United Energy System of Central Asia (CA UES). The CA water and energy complex was formed and developed in a complex manner, as an important component of the united CA economic region. In accordance with this, plans for the management of water and energy resources in CA were developed and implemented, providing a special mechanism to compensate for costs and distribute benefits among the countries of the region. Most of the electricity generated by the Naryn (Syr Darya River basin) and Vakhsh (Amu Darya River basin) cascades of hydroelectric power stations (HPS) was transferred to neighbouring republics during the summer with irrigation water releases, and Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan received in return (from the united reserve material and technical resources) electricity, natural gas, coal and fuel oil, for the operation of their thermal power plants in the autumn-winter seasons.
After the disintegration of the USSR and the termination of centralised financing of the CA UES, the order of its operation was disrupted. Lacking their own energy resources, countries with a predominant hydropower industry began to release more water from reservoirs in the winter to cover the increased demand for electricity during this period, which led to a violation of HPS operation rules and abnormal water–energy modes of operation. The acute weakening of cooperation in the CA water and energy complex in the 2000s coincided with a rapid increase in pressure on the energy sector and additional depletion of the region's water resources. The decrease in the functionality of the CA UES was accompanied by a greater number of emergencies in the power systems, which led to a decrease in the reliability of the power supply in the region.
The energy and water segments of the CA water and energy complex have faced a number of serious problems that need to be addressed at the regulatory and technological levels. One promising technological direction for the CA water and energy complex is the development of modern technologies for the accumulation and storage of electrical energy, the use of which could contribute to solving the problem of seasonal electricity shortages, more balanced management of water resources at the regional level, optimisation of investment resources, as well as the full use of the hydropower potential in the CA region. The main potential consumers of stored energy are countries experiencing seasonal power shortages and forced to discharge water from reservoirs in winter and spring instead of storing it for rational use in the water–energy and agro-industrial complex of the entire CA region.
Energy accumulation and storage systems are becoming increasingly important in energy systems around the world. Energy storage is a key solution for global energy, in particular in matters of reserve balance of energy resources in the context of integrating large power facilities based on renewable energy sources (RES) into energy systems. In European countries, such redundancy is mostly provided by special energy networks, but these countries also attach great importance to energy reserve technologies. In the future, the importance of energy accumulation and storage systems will significantly increase as a result of the growth in the use of RES and the emergence of new requirements for electric power systems.
The energy and water segments of the CA water and energy complex have faced a number of serious problems that need to be addressed at the regulatory and technological levels. One promising technological direction for the CA water and energy complex is the development of modern technologies for the accumulation and storage of electrical energy, the use of which could contribute to solving the problem of seasonal electricity shortages, more balanced management of water resources at the regional level, optimisation of investment resources, as well as the full use of the hydropower potential in the CA region. The main potential consumers of stored energy are countries experiencing seasonal power shortages and forced to discharge water from reservoirs in winter and spring instead of storing it for rational use in the water–energy and agro-industrial complex of the entire CA region.
Energy accumulation and storage systems are becoming increasingly important in energy systems around the world. Energy storage is a key solution for global energy, in particular in matters of reserve balance of energy resources in the context of integrating large power facilities based on renewable energy sources (RES) into energy systems. In European countries, such redundancy is mostly provided by special energy networks, but these countries also attach great importance to energy reserve technologies. In the future, the importance of energy accumulation and storage systems will significantly increase as a result of the growth in the use of RES and the emergence of new requirements for electric power systems.
Dynamics of installed capacity volumes in Central Asia, the Ministry of Internal Affairs
The Central Asian energy sector was developed in the context of regional state programs, with the ownership structure and investment projects reflecting the important role played by the state in this area. In terms of investment in the energy sector in 2020, Kazakhstan led the region with $2.783 billion, equivalent to 1.6% of its GDP, followed by Uzbekistan with $1.377 billion or 2.4% of its GDP. Meanwhile, investments in the water and energy complex capital in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan amounted to $507 million (6.3% of GDP) and $89 million (1.2% of GDP), respectively.
Due to the relatively low investment attractiveness of the VEC in most Central Asian countries for private and foreign investors, multilateral development banks (MDBs) have become a crucial source of financial resources for government initiatives in the region. Currently, there are 104 projects with a total value of $10.2 billion being implemented in the region. The leading provider of financing is the EBRD, which accounts for $3.3 billion or 32.7% of total MDB financing in Central Asia. Following closely behind are the World Bank with $3.0 billion (29.6%) and the ADB with $2.6 billion (26.2%). The remaining $1.2 billion (11.5%) is covered by the EDB, EFSR, EIB, and AIIB collectively.
Due to the relatively low investment attractiveness of the VEC in most Central Asian countries for private and foreign investors, multilateral development banks (MDBs) have become a crucial source of financial resources for government initiatives in the region. Currently, there are 104 projects with a total value of $10.2 billion being implemented in the region. The leading provider of financing is the EBRD, which accounts for $3.3 billion or 32.7% of total MDB financing in Central Asia. Following closely behind are the World Bank with $3.0 billion (29.6%) and the ADB with $2.6 billion (26.2%). The remaining $1.2 billion (11.5%) is covered by the EDB, EFSR, EIB, and AIIB collectively.
Use of water and land resources in the Aral Sea basin
The task of achieving agreement on the distribution of transboundary water resources in interstate river basins is a crucial one that requires political determination and a comprehensive approach, taking into account the socio-economic and environmental changes and political conditions in neighboring countries. The process of reaching a consensus on the joint use of transboundary water resources cannot be separated from the economic development models of each country and regional economic cooperation as a whole. By enhancing economic cooperation and trade ties among the countries in the region and making water policy an active factor in economic integration, the problem of sharing transboundary water resources can be addressed.
You can also view the report Green Technologies for Eurasia’s Sustainable Future at the EDB website
You can also view the report Green Technologies for Eurasia’s Sustainable Future at the EDB website
