OREANDA-NEWS. February 10, 2014. Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov held a meeting on the development of support systems of renewable energy sources (RES) in Kazakhstan.

The meeting was attended by the heads of a number of concerned central public organs and national companies.

Minister of Environment and Water Resources Nurlan Kapparov presented proposals on measures to support renewable energy system and formation of this market in Kazakhstan.

On behalf of the Head of State the experience of the European Union, taking into account the mistakes made in the development of RES in several countries has been researched.

The meeting's participants discussed the results of research and recommendations of European experts.

So, the proposals for setting tariffs for energy generated by wind, sun, biogas and hydropower are considered, their rate is determined on the basis of benchmarking, i.e. assessment of the experience of other countries developing RES sector and comparing them with those of the price of "clean" electricity.

According to N. Kapparov, it is planned to approve fixed tariffs for 2014 with a term of 15 years for wind turbines - 19 tenge (about 9.5 cents per 1 kWh of electric energy), solar stations - 29 tenge (about 14.5 cents), small hydropower plants - 14 tenge (about 7 cents), biogas units - 27 tenge (about 13.5 cents).

Also, the proposals for setting limits on RES projects until 2020 are considered both bytypes and areas of consumption that will allow toregulate the processes of RES facilities distribution, land allocation and networking.

In general, the proposed limit is 1,850 MW of installed capacity: 1300 MVt for wind turbines, 500 MW for solar stations, 50 MW for biogas units. Limits on the areas are 1050 MW for wind stations in central zone, 250 MW in western zone, 400 MW for solar stations in central area and 100 MW in western zone, 40 MW for boigas units in central area and 10 MW in western zone, said the Head of MEPWR.

The measures of annual tariff indexation considering the inflation and the purchase system of electricity by a single buyer - financial support center of RES were discussed.

In general, the Head of Government endorsed the proposed support system of RES, tariff rate, limits approaches, principles of implementation. The system aims to attract significant investment, as well as to reduce the risks for final consumers.

Following discussions, S. Akhmetov instructed to submit the Draft Resolution of the Government to start the functioning of the RES market, as well as a number of requests to ensure the functioning of the financial support center of RES, to make adjustments in the project plans taking into account the established limits by type of renewable energy sources.