International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) released a statement
detailing six key areas to facilitate the uptake of renewables in
Central Asia and help diversify the energy mix in a new regional Action
Plan.
During the Energy Ministerial at the Astana EXPO-2017 on
Sunday, countries addressed the major regional challenges to the
deployment of renewables, which were identified by IRENA as: increased
electricity demand, ageing power infrastructure, limited energy access
for remote areas, and the impact of climate change on the energy
systems.
Central Asian countries identified areas for IRENA's
collaboration to facilitate the deployment of renewable energy in the
region through resource assessments, integration of variable renewable
energy into power grids, policies and regulations for renewable energy
deployment, renewable energy statistics and data collection, project
facilitation and raising awareness.
IRENA Director-General Adnan
Z. Amin said in a statement that covering over four million square
kilometers, the countries of Central Asia are endowed with rich
renewable energy sources that can drive sustainable economic development
and growth.
"With renewable energy targets in place for 2020 and
beyond, the region can now seize this transformative opportunity for a
sustainable energy future, and the new Action Plan will help boost
efforts of renewable energy uptake,” he added.
Over the last two
years, the region took steps in diversifying its energy mix, by
installing 500 megawatts of new non-hydro renewable power capacity.
(Anadolu Agency)