Kazakhstan has auctioned 202 MW of grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in two separate auctions.

To begin with, the Kazakhstan electricity and power market operator (JSC KOREM) has auctioned 30 MW of grid-connected solar PV projects for the southern zone of Kazakhstan. Per KOREM, 20 applications were received from 13 companies with project capacity ranging from 1 to 10 MW.

Bids totaling 167.05 MW were received against the tendered capacity of 30 MW. The starting price for the auction was 28.99 KZT (Kazakhstani Tenge)/kWh. The bids ranged between a low of 18 KZT/kWh and a high of 28.99 KZT/kWh.

A capacity of 32 MW was auctioned at the end. Dala Solar won 2 MW of solar projects by quoting 18KZT/kWh, JSC Hydroenergy won the bid to develop 10 MW by quoting tariff of 19.58 KZT/kWh, DSTO Solar bid 19.58 KZT/kWh to develop 10 MW and KK-KIUNSEN bid 19.63 KZT/kWh to develop 10 MW.

In another auction, KOREM auctioned 170 MW of solar PV capacity against the 150 MW that had been tendered. These projects will also be developed in the southern zone of Kazakhstan. Per KOREM, 28 applications were received from 20 companies with a single project capacity ranging from 10.2 MW to 100 MW.

In this auction, bids totaling 1270.199 MW were received against the tendered capacity of 150 MW. The starting price for the auction was 32 KZT/kWh. In the auction, bids ranged between a low of 18.6 KZT/kWh to a high of 32 KZT/kWh.

JSC Hydroenergy won 50 MW by quoting 18.6 KZT/kWh, Avelar Solar Technology quoted 18.8 KZT/kWh to develop 20 MW and 22.5 KZT/kWh to develop 50 MW, while Shell Kazakhstan B.V quoted 22.9KZT/kWh to develop 50 MW. Overall, 170 MW of capacity was awarded in this auction against the tendered capacity of 150 MW.

Mercom previously reported that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced that it will finance the development of a 100 MW solar project in the Zhambyl region of southern Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan aims to generate 50 percent of its electricity from renewable and alternative sources of energy as per President Nazarbayev’s 2050 strategy.

These auctions will expedite the country’s shift to renewables, especially solar.