ASTANA (TCA) — In the run-up to the EXPO 2017 in Astana, the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan and the United Nations Development Programme in Kazakhstan on May 19 launched the interactive electronic Solar Resources Atlas of Kazakhstan.
The Solar Resources Atlas is a web-based resource, which provides free access to information for implementing ideas to introduce and use solar power in Kazakhstan, the UNDP in Kazakhstan said. The Atlas will contain open data of space distribution of Kazakhstan’s solar resources. The Atlas data reflect the constantly undated international climatic bases. The Atlas will also provide users with tools to analyze and estimate managerial decisions on the installation of solar electric power stations (photovoltaic stations). The Atlas will make it possible to take effective measures to develop solar energy in various geographic areas of Kazakhstan.
“The solar energy sector grows by 50% annually in the world. Despite the fact that the share of solar energy is relatively low, it will turn into the major source of energy on the planet in the near future. It is attractive because it is inexhaustible, independent of energy prices on world markets, ecologically clean and safe. The use of solar energy does not cause any greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere that will contribute to stopping climate change,” Head of Sustainable development and urbanization unit of UNDP in Kazakhstan Rassul Rakhimov said at the presentation.
The Atlas will also attract investors in solar energy as well as serve a technical tool for energy generating organizations which design stations and energy supply systems, and companies which sell and install solar power stations and water heating devices. The users of solar panels, scientific organizations, scientists, students as well as final consumers of solar energy will benefit from the Atlas.
The Solar Resources Atlas of Kazakhstan was developed by a Kazakh company Sapa Pro&Tech, which consists of scientists, meteorology experts, power engineers, geoinformation system specialists and web application developers.
The Atlas was created under the project of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy and UNDP “Providing Assistance to the Government of Republic of Kazakhstan to Implement the Green Economy Transition Concept of Republic of Kazakhstan and Institutionalize the Green Bridge Partnership Programme”. The Project’s goal is to provide assistance to Kazakhstan in the practical implementation of the Conception on the transition to the green economy through supporting lawmaking initiatives, technical prospects for the development of the solar energy sector, sustainable fishery and aquaculture as well as through supporting and developing the Green Bridge Partnership Programme.
