Superhot Rock Geothermal in Kazakhstan

The document highlights that just 1% of Kazakhstan's superhot rock geothermal resource could provide 257 GW of energy capacity, generating over 2,136,401 GWh of electricity. This amount is 19 times the country's 2021 electricity consumption and could theoretically replace all coal and gas used for electricity production. The technology is described as a land-efficient, 24/7 renewable energy source that could leverage Kazakhstan's existing oil and gas subsurface expertise for a zero-carbon transition.

• Preliminary modeling by the Clean Air Task Force and the University of Twente indicates that Kazakhstan possesses significant superhot rock resources. Specifically, 1% of these resources could provide 257 GW of energy capacity and generate more than 2,136,401 GWh of electricity, which is 19 times the nation's 2021 electricity consumption of 115,075 GWh.
• Superhot rock geothermal could theoretically replace all coal and gas used in Kazakhstan's electricity production, exceeding the country's climate goals. While not expected to reach commercial scale by 2030, it could support the goal of increasing alternative electricity generation sources to 50% by 2050 and reducing emissions by 67 megatonnes of CO2eq by 2030.
• The technology is highly land-efficient compared to other energy sources. Producing 1 GW of superhot rock geothermal requires approximately 12 km² of land, whereas natural gas requires 160 km², solar 180 km², offshore wind 520 km², and biomass 14,000 km².
• Superhot rock geothermal provides 'firm power' that is available 24/7, reducing the need for excess generation, transmission capacity, and expensive backup generation. The document cites a California study suggesting that clean firm power could reduce new transmission requirements by one-third.
• The transition to superhot rock geothermal could utilize Kazakhstan's existing oil and gas sector expertise. Geoscientists, mechanics, and electricians currently employed in oil production could transition to the superhot rock industry, utilizing existing subsurface assets and knowledge.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (n.d.). Superhot Rock Geothermal in Kazakhstan. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144851/Kazakhstan-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Superhot Rock Geothermal in Kazakhstan. n.d. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144851/Kazakhstan-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Superhot Rock Geothermal in Kazakhstan |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144851/Kazakhstan-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforcendsuperhot, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Superhot Rock Geothermal in Kazakhstan}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/22144851/Kazakhstan-SHR-Regional-Assessment.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }