Issues of improving the normative regulation of the utilization of renewable energy sources in the Republic of Kazakhstan

Abstract

This study addresses ways to strengthen Kazakhstan’s legislative framework for renewable energy deployment, emphasizing Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (Corporate PPAs). The focus is timely given the country’s ambition to boost renewable energy’s share to 15% by 2030 and advance toward carbon neutrality, all of which demand flexible, market-driven solutions. The core goal is to pinpoint prominent legal obstacles that hinder stand-alone Corporate PPAs and propose legislative adjustments based on international experiences, particularly those from Germany and China.

In exploring the regulation of Kazakhstan’s renewable energy sector, the research zeroes in on direct bilateral arrangements between clean energy generators and corporate consumers. The methodology combines a doctrinal review of existing laws with a comparative legal analysis of global Corporate PPA models. The findings reveal limitations such as constrained participant pools, the absence of standard contractual templates, and no mechanism to partially blend governmental support with corporate off-take arrangements. Furthermore, the research highlights the need to establish a domestic system for “green” certificates, develop model contracts, re-evaluate price controls, and extend direct contracting to non-affiliated parties. By presenting targeted legal and institutional guidelines to attract private capital, expand the share of renewables in the energy mix, and further Kazakhstan’s decarbonization, the study contributes practical solutions to meet the country’s environmental objectives. Collectively, these reforms are projected to foster greater private sector involvement and accelerate a more sustainable energy transition.