Wind energy is the kinetic energy of moving air. The wind, which has energy, appears due to uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun, unevenness of the earth's surface and rotation of the Earth. The speed of the wind determines the amount of kinetic energy that can be converted into mechanical energy or electricity. Wind energy is a renewable source and does not produce greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide or methane). Wind power plants are built in places with a high average wind speed - from 4.5 m / s and above. Prospects for using wind energy are determined by the availability of appropriate wind energy resources. Kazakhstan is exceptionally rich in wind resources. About 50% of the territory of Kazakhstan has an average annual wind speed of 6-8 m / s, and a number of areas have a wind speed of 10 m / s or more, which predetermines very good prospects for the use of wind power.
The sun is the most powerful renewable source of energy for our planet (for life on earth): the amount of energy that falls on the surface of the earth from the sun per day exceeds world consumption for the year. Solar energy can be used both for the production of electricity, and for heating and lighting of residential and industrial premises, heating water. Being an environmentally friendly renewable energy source that does not emit carbon dioxide and is not dependent on fossil resources, solar energy promotes the diversification of energy sources, improving energy efficiency and saving resources and resources.
Kazakhstan, being the largest Central Asian republic, has a great potential of solar energy. The number of solar hours per year is 2,200-3,000, and the energy of solar radiation is 1,300-1,800 kW / m2 / year. About 70% of the territory of Kazakhstan refers to areas with a predominance of sunny days per year. The duration of sunshine here varies from 2800 to 3000 hours, the annual arrival of solar radiation on this territory is at least 19 * 1017 kcal, which is equivalent to 270 billion tce. Despite very favorable conditions, the resource of solar energy is almost not used.
Hydropower is a power plant that uses the energy of a water stream as an energy source. This kind of energy has become accessible to man through the joint "work" of three elements: water, air and, of course, the sun.
The sun evaporates water from the surface of lakes, seas and oceans, forming clouds. The wind moves the gaseous water to the elevated areas, where it condenses and, precipitating as precipitation, begins to flow back to its original sources. On the way these streams are put hydropower stations, which intercept the energy of the falling water and convert it into electricity. The power produced by the station depends on the height of the fall of the water; therefore dams began to be built at the hydroelectric power station. They also allow you to adjust the amount of flow. Of course, the creation of such a huge structure is very expensive, but HPP fully pays for itself due to the inexhaustibility of the resource used and free access to it. In Kazakhstan, there are significant hydro resources, in theory, the capacity of all hydro resources of the country is 170 billion kWh per year, that is, only a small part of hydroelectric resources is currently used.
The main rivers are the Irtysh, the Ili and the Syr Darya. Economically efficient hydro resources are concentrated mainly in the east (mountainous Altai) and in the south of the country. The largest hydropower stations: On the river. Irtysh constructed Bukhtarma HPP - 0.7 million kW, Ust-Kamenogorsk HPP - 0.3 million kW and Shulbin HPP - 0.7 million kW., On the river. Or Kapchagayskaya HPP was built - 0.4 million kW, providing 10% of the country's needs.