Ambassador presented in Brussels the potential of Turkmenistan in the formation of clean energy of the future

Turkmenistan, using its rich solar resources and natural gas reserves, is determined to play an important role in shaping a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy future. The country plans to achieve zero growth in greenhouse gas emissions in the medium term, starting in 2030, and significantly reduce emissions on an annual basis in the long term. This was stated by the Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Belgium Sapar Palvanov, speaking on Tuesday at the conference "The Future of clean energy for Central Asia" organized by the Brussels Energy Club.

Palvanov said that Turkmenistan has been steadily reducing the carbon intensity of its products in recent years. According to expert estimates, economic growth until 2030 will be accompanied by a decrease in energy consumption per unit of GDP. Turkmenistan's national climate change strategy includes directives on the development of measures to reduce methane emissions from the extraction, transportation and distribution of natural gas.

These efforts and practical steps of Turkmenistan are carried out in close cooperation with international institutions and foreign partners. This area, which has not yet been fully disclosed, offers great opportunities for foreign investors, the diplomat stressed.

— As an energy power, Turkmenistan does not deviate from the issue of mitigating the negative impact on the climate of production, transportation and use of energy resources. We strive to promote the "green" transformation, because we recognize that the future of humanity depends on clean and sustainable energy," the Ambassador continued.

To illustrate the scale of potential projects in Turkmenistan, Palvanov said that there are about 300 sunny days in the country every year, and the duration of sunny days reaches an impressive 2500-3000 hours. This abundance of sunlight provides a unique opportunity to use solar energy.

In addition, Turkmenistan is home to one of the largest sandy deserts in the world – the Karakums. This desert contains silicon, a common semiconductor material that can absorb sunlight and convert it into electrical energy. The presence of silicon in Turkmenistan favorably positions the country for the production of solar panels, which makes it an ideal place for the development of solar photovoltaic energy.

The production of modern solar panels primarily requires silicon, which is in abundance in Turkmenistan. Silicon oxides, i.e. quartz sands, with a high content of coloring oxides are concentrated in two deposits of Turkmenistan, the balance reserves of which are estimated at almost 83 million tons. With significant reserves of quartz sands, Turkmenistan can contribute to the global introduction of solar energy.

Currently, Turkmenistan has a combined solar and wind power plant with a total capacity of 10 MW. Turkmenenergo Corporation has also planned the construction of solar power plants with a capacity of more than 6 MW in remote settlements throughout the country.

In addition to solar energy, Turkmenistan recognizes the importance of hydrogen energy in solving global environmental and climate problems. Being the fourth largest owner of natural gas reserves, Turkmenistan has a strategic position for the development of hydrogen energy. More than 68% of hydrogen production is accounted for by natural gas, which makes it the most cost-effective method.

To fully unlock the potential of hydrogen energy, Turkmenistan is striving to create an industry infrastructure, including the organization of industrial production, storage and transport networks. Turkmenistan's roadmap for the development of international cooperation in the field of hydrogen energy for 2022-2023 provides for a number of comprehensive measures and practical steps to attract foreign investment in this area.

During the conference, Ambassador Sapar Palvanov also made a presentation of the new city of Arkadag. It embodies the concept of a "smart city" and adheres to an environmentally conscious approach at every stage, from the production of building materials to the operation of facilities. The integration of advanced technologies such as smart homes, intelligent traffic systems, water and energy saving measures, eco-friendly transport and advanced video surveillance equipped with sensors for detecting accidents and emergencies distinguish this city. Moreover, these services and amenities are designed to be accessible to all members of the community, with special attention to people with disabilities.

The first conference on energy security and sustainable development of Central Asia was held with the participation of the heads of diplomatic missions of all five countries of the region in Brussels, as well as the Chairman of the EP delegation for Relations with Central Asian countries Tomasz Zdechowski, the EU Special Representative for Central Asia Teri Hakala and other politicians from EU institutions. During the debate, the huge potential of the Central Asian region in the development of green energy was noted.