WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

3.1.2 Kyrgyzstan
Yingnan Zhang, International Center on Small Hydro
Power
Key facts
Population 5,496,737 1
Area 199,951 km 2 . 1
Climate Dry continental to polar in high Tien
Shan Mountains (highest point: Jengish
Chokusu, 7,439 m); subtropical in
southwest; temperate in northern
foothill zone 1
Topography Peaks of Tien Shan and associated
valleys and basins encompass entire
nation. 1
Rain
pattern
Mean annual precipitation is 440 mm.
Months with highest precipitation are
April and May. 2
Electricity sector overview
The total installed capacity in Kyrgyzstan is 3,713 MW,
with hydropower dominating electricity generation
(figure 1). 3 There are 18 power plants: 16 are hydro
(79.5 per cent of total installed capacity: 2,950 MW)
and 2 are thermal power plants (20.5 per cent of total
installed capacity: 763 MW). The latter are fueled by
gas, fuel oil and coal. All 16 hydropower plants are
outdated and need refurbishing and/or upgrading.
Thermal
Hydropower
10%
90%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Figure 1 Electricity generation in Kyrgyzstan
Source: bishkek.usembassy.gov 4
Small hydropower sector overview and potential
According to the National Energy Program of the
Kyrgyz Republic for 2008-2010, 92 new small
hydropower plants with a total capacity of 178 MW
are to be constructed and 39 existing but abandoned
small hydropower plants with a total output capacity
of 22 MW were restored. 5 In addition, seven water
turbines were installed onto existing irrigation
reservoirs with a total output of 75 MW (figure 2). 6 In
Kyrgyzstan, farmers living in mountain areas are still
not grid-connected. Therefore, mini and micro
hydropower projects are run by individual efforts in
rural mountain areas.
SHP installed capacity (up to 10 MW)
SHP potential (up to 10 MW)
SHP installed capacity (up to 30 MW)
SHP potential (up to 30 MW)
32 MW
32 MW
275 MW
0 200 400 600 800 1000
500-900 MW
Figure 2 Small hydropower capacities in Kyrgyzstan
Source: National Energy Program of the Kyrgyz
Republic for 2008-2010 5 and Global Environmental
Facility 7
Note: It cannot be confirmed that the 200 MW
planned small hydropower capacity has been
implemented therefore the installed capacity is
reported as 32 MW only.
Renewable energy policy
The Government of Kyrgyzstan set up a Center on the
Problems of Using Renewable Energy Resources
(CPURER) that has developed a programme for the use
of renewable energy, including biomass. Additionally,
the Government also approved another two policies
named National Energy Programme for 2008-2012 and
Development Strategy of Fuel and Energy Sector until
2025. 6
Barriers to small hydropower development
The Government of Kyrgyzstan promotes renewable
energy development, but it still cannot attract
sufficient interest of private investors to develop
smaller projects. The main reason is the lack of legal
and regulatory framework and insufficient data on
existing potentials.
Specific barriers to small hydropower development are
manifold. Due to seasonality, streams are more likely
(than larger rivers) to freeze in winter. This could
mean that facilities may not be operable during the
winter, when power and heat are greatest in demand,
and central grids are unable to compensate. Many
communities are connected to the grid, therefore,
during the summer, when power is relatively
abundant, demand for off-grid power is not high. This
leads to unfavourable economic conditions for
commercial small hydropower plants. 8
Streams during droughts are also more likely (than
larger rivers) to suffer from low flow, thus reducing
the generating capacity of the plant. 8 Furthermore, the
small hydropower technical capacity in construction
and maintenance (including spare parts) needs to be
improved for local companies. 8
References
1. Central Intelligence Agency (2012). The World
Factbook. Available from
www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
222