The Kyrgyz Ministry of Energy has launched an initiative that could radically change the renewable energy landscape in the country and, according to experts, create new barriers to the most environmentally friendly technologies. A package of amendments to the law on renewable energy sources (RES) has been submitted for public discussion, which, on the one hand, is aimed at stabilizing the energy system, and on the other — risks slowing down the development of solar and wind generation in favor of small hydroelectric power stations that are more dangerous to nature.
The key and most controversial innovation — is the requirement to forcibly equip all new solar and wind power plants (SPPs and wind farms) with energy storage systems. According to the project, the capacity of such storage devices should be at least 30% of the installed capacity of the station itself. The department explains its position by the risks associated with the instability of «green» generation: the sun does not shine around the clock, and the wind does not blow constantly. The lack of storage, according to the ministry, leads to network congestion during hours of excess output and shortages during peak consumption hours, which destabilizes voltage and frequency in the system and can cause emergency shutdowns.
However, this, at first glance, technically justified requirement carries serious economic consequences. Energy storage systems — are expensive equipment that can increase capital costs for the construction of solar power plants or wind farms by tens of percent. At the same time, the proposed amendments do not contain a similar requirement for small hydroelectric power plants, which by law are also classified as renewable energy sources. Thus, hidden preferences are created for the construction of small hydroelectric power stations, which become much more attractive projects for investors compared to solar and wind power plants, burdened with additional financial obligations.
This situation is of particular environmental concern. Despite their «renewable source» status, small hydroelectric power plants cause significant harm to the environment. Their construction disrupts natural river beds, poses a threat to the migration of fish and endemic species, changes the hydrological regime and leads to the degradation of river ecosystems. At the same time, solar and wind parks, when properly located, have an incomparably smaller impact on nature. It turns out that a legislative initiative designed to solve the technical problems of the energy system risks pushing the development of energy in Kyrgyzstan along a path that is more dangerous for the environment.
An additional touch to the overall picture was another amendment proposed by the Ministry of Energy on the same day. It obliges all renewable energy subjects without exception, including solar, wind and small hydroelectric power plants, to contribute 1% of revenue from the sale of electricity to the budgets of local governments. According to officials, these funds should be used to «finance social, infrastructure and environmental projects and improve the quality of life of the population», as well as reduce the dependence of local authorities on the central budget. But against the backdrop of unequal requirements for the installation of storage devices, this «tax» only emphasizes the imbalance: all renewable energy sources will pay equally, but the costs of entering the market for solar and wind energy will become disproportionately higher. Thus, the future of truly clean energy in Kyrgyzstan has been called into question, and the decision now depends on the outcome of public discussion and the political will of the country’s leadership.
Alexander Eskendirov (Rivers.Help!)
