UAE, Kazakhstan Sign Pact for Massive Renewable Energy Expansion

In a major push for cleaner energy futures, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan, witnessed the signing of a renewable energy agreement between UAE-based Masdar and Kazakhstan’s sovereign wealth fund, Samruk-Kazyna.

The deal, inked during Sheikh Khaled’s official visit to Kazakhstan, aims to develop a ‘24/7’ baseload renewable energy project capable of delivering up to 500 MW and battery energy storage systems (BESS) with a combined capacity of up to 2 GW.

In a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in Astana, Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar, and Nurlan Zhakupov, CEO of Samruk-Kazyna, formalised the agreement by exchanging official documents.

The event also marked the ratification of an Intergovernmental Agreement between the UAE and Kazakhstan for Masdar’s 1GW wind project, a major step forward for what is set to be one of the region’s largest wind farms, supported by a 600 megawatt-hour battery storage system.

“This agreement builds on the strong energy partnership between our nations,” said Dr. Sultan Al Jaber. “By leveraging Masdar’s renewable and battery storage expertise, Kazakhstan can meet current energy needs, generate employment, and prepare for tomorrow’s demands.”

Echoing this sentiment, Nurlan Zhakupov highlighted the alignment with Kazakhstan’s long-term green goals. “This collaboration supports our mission to reach carbon neutrality by 2060 and expand renewables in our energy mix,” he said.

Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi also emphasized Kazakhstan’s strategic importance: “This agreement strengthens our presence in Kazakhstan and our collaboration with Samruk-Kazyna. Together, we aim to boost energy security, drive economic diversification, and advance climate action.”

Kazakhstan is aiming to generate 15 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and 50 percent by 2050. Masdar previously partnered with W. Solar, Qazaq Green Power (QGP), and the Kazakhstan Investment Development Fund to develop the 1GW wind project, with construction expected to begin in 2026.

Masdar’s ambitions go beyond Kazakhstan. The company is targeting 100GW of global renewable capacity by 2030, with a strong presence in Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and other Central Asian nations.

In a recent milestone, Masdar unveiled the world’s first gigascale 24/7 solar and battery storage project at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, featuring a 5.2 GW solar PV plant and a colossal 19GWh BESS, designed to deliver 1 GW of round-the-clock power.

As energy demands rise and climate commitments grow more urgent, partnerships like this between the UAE and Kazakhstan signal a shared commitment to powering the future, cleanly, reliably, and sustainably.