Microsoft Word - formatted_Roadmap-Energy Connectivity in Central Asia_v1.docx

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute and UNECE analyzes the potential for enhanced energy connectivity in Central Asia. Through scenario modelling, it demonstrates that transitioning from national self-sufficiency to integrated regional power trading can lower electricity production costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve energy security by leveraging the diverse renewable and low-carbon resources of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

• Regional energy connectivity is projected to reduce the emissions intensity of electricity production. In an 'Unlimited transmission' scenario, emissions intensity could be approximately 3% lower than in a 'National energy self-sufficiency' scenario.
• Integrating the regional power system can lead to significant cost savings. By 2050, annual savings in electricity production costs could reach 1.4 billion USD when comparing the Unlimited Transmission scenario against National Energy Self-Sufficiency.
• The region possesses diverse low-carbon energy potentials: Kazakhstan has vast uranium reserves and land for wind and solar; Uzbekistan has significant uranium reserves and plans for 2.0 GW of solar and 1.0 GW of wind; Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have substantial hydropower potential (estimated at 158 and 527 TWh of annual production, respectively); and Turkmenistan has extensive gas resources and high solar potential (4.4KWh/m).
• Kazakhstan is positioned to be a major player in the hydrogen market, though economic modelling suggests a preference for 'blue' hydrogen (steam methane reforming with carbon capture and storage) over 'green' hydrogen in the near term due to cost-effectiveness.
• Current regional infrastructure is insufficient for large-scale renewable integration and real-time trading, with average electricity transmission losses at 12.8%. System malfunctions, such as a 2022 blackout in southern Kazakhstan that affected Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, highlight the need for investment in high-voltage lines.
• The 'Unlimited Transmission' scenario identifies specific high-efficiency infrastructure additions, including increasing the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan connection from 1718 MW to 7906 MW, and adding 9500 MW to Kazakhstan's North-South connection.
• A successful roadmap for energy connectivity requires a multidimensional approach aligning four key areas: technical (research and capacity building), political (stakeholder engagement and trust), financial (innovative financing and cost-benefit analysis), and organizational (harmonization of regulatory frameworks).

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (n.d.). Microsoft Word - formatted_Roadmap-Energy Connectivity in Central Asia_v1.docx. https://leap.sei.org/documents/UNECECentralAsia2025.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Microsoft Word - formatted_Roadmap-Energy Connectivity in Central Asia_v1.docx. n.d. https://leap.sei.org/documents/UNECECentralAsia2025.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Microsoft Word - formatted_Roadmap-Energy Connectivity in Central Asia_v1.docx |url=https://leap.sei.org/documents/UNECECentralAsia2025.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitutendmicrosoft, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Microsoft Word - formatted\_Roadmap-Energy Connectivity in Central Asia\_v1.docx}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://leap.sei.org/documents/UNECECentralAsia2025.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }