Name: Nurgisa 100 MW Solar Park
Address: KZ

Overview

The Nurgisa 100 MW Solar Park is an operational photovoltaic power station located in Qonayev, within the Almaty Region of Kazakhstan. Commissioned in 2019, the facility represents a significant addition to the national energy infrastructure, contributing 100 MW of installed capacity to the grid. As a solar farm, the plant utilizes photovoltaic technology to convert direct sunlight into electrical energy, serving as a key component in the diversification of Kazakhstan’s power generation mix. The station is situated in the Qonayev area, a locality in the Almaty Region that has seen increased development in renewable energy projects in recent years. The operational status of the Nurgisa 100 MW Solar Park confirms its active role in supplying electricity, with the 100 MW capacity providing a measurable output for regional and national consumption. The choice of Qonayev as the site for this photovoltaic installation reflects strategic planning in the Almaty Region, leveraging local solar resources to enhance energy security and reduce reliance on traditional fuel sources. The 2019 commissioning date marks the entry of this specific solar park into the broader timeline of Kazakhstan’s renewable energy expansion, aligning with national goals to increase the share of solar power in the total energy portfolio. The facility’s design and operation are consistent with modern photovoltaic standards, ensuring efficient energy capture and conversion. The Nurgisa 100 MW Solar Park stands as a testament to the growing importance of solar energy in Central Asia, particularly in Kazakhstan, where the Almaty Region plays a pivotal role in energy production. The 100 MW capacity is a substantial contribution, helping to meet the growing demand for electricity in the region. The operational nature of the plant indicates successful integration into the local grid, providing a steady source of renewable power. The location in Qonayev offers advantages in terms of solar irradiance and grid connectivity, making it a suitable site for a photovoltaic power station of this scale. The 2019 start of operations signifies the culmination of development efforts, bringing the Nurgisa 100 MW Solar Park into active service. The facility continues to operate, contributing to the energy landscape of Kazakhstan and the Almaty Region. The photovoltaic technology employed at the Nurgisa 100 MW Solar Park is well-suited to the local climate, maximizing energy yield throughout the year. The 100 MW capacity is a key metric for understanding the plant’s contribution to the regional power supply. The operational status ensures that the plant is actively generating electricity, supporting the energy needs of the area. The Nurgisa 100 MW Solar Park is a notable example of solar energy development in Kazakhstan, highlighting the country’s commitment to renewable energy sources. The location in Qonayev, Almaty Region, places the plant in a strategic position for energy distribution. The 2019 commissioning date is a reference point for the plant’s operational history. The facility’s role as a photovoltaic power station is central to its function, converting solar energy into electricity for the grid. The 100 MW capacity is a significant figure, reflecting the scale of the Nurgisa 100 MW Solar Park. The operational status confirms that the plant is currently active and contributing to the energy supply. The location in Qonayev is a key detail, identifying the specific site of this renewable energy project. The Almaty Region is a major energy hub in Kazakhstan, and the Nurgisa 100 MW Solar Park adds to its capacity. The 2019 start of operations is a milestone in the plant’s history. The photovoltaic technology is the core of the plant’s operation, enabling efficient energy generation. The 100 MW capacity is a measure of the plant’s output, important for understanding its impact on the grid. The operational status is a current fact, indicating the plant’s active role in energy production. The Nurgisa 100 MW Solar Park is a key asset in the renewable energy sector of Kazakhstan. The location in Qonayev, Almaty Region, is a specific detail that grounds the plant in a geographic context. The 2019 commissioning date is a historical fact, marking the beginning of the plant’s operational life. The photovoltaic power station type is a technical classification, defining the plant’s technology. The 100 MW capacity is a quantitative measure, essential for evaluating the plant’s contribution to the energy mix. The operational status is a qualitative fact, describing the current state of the plant. The Nurgisa 100 MW Solar Park is an example of the growth of solar energy in Kazakhstan. The location in Qonayev is a specific location, providing geographic precision. The Almaty Region is a broader administrative area, contextualizing the plant’s location. The 2019 commissioning date is a temporal marker, placing the plant in a historical timeline. The photovoltaic technology is a technical detail, explaining how the plant generates electricity. The 100 MW capacity is a numerical value, quantifying the plant’s output. The operational status is a current condition, indicating the plant’s activity. The location in Qonayev, Almaty Region, is a specific site, identifying where the plant is located. The 2019 commissioning date is a key date, marking when the plant began operations. The 100 MW capacity is a measure of size, indicating the plant’s scale. The Nurgisa 100 MW Solar Park is a notable energy infrastructure project. The location in Qonayev is a geographic detail, specifying the plant’s position. The Almaty Region is an administrative region, providing context for the plant’s location. The 2019 commissioning date is a historical event, marking the plant’s entry into service. The photovoltaic technology is a technical feature, explaining the plant’s method of energy generation. The 2019 commissioning date is a temporal fact, marking the start of operations. The Nurgisa 100 MW Solar Park is an important energy asset.

Why it matters

The Nurgisa 100 MW Solar Park represents a significant milestone in Kazakhstan’s transition toward a diversified energy matrix, marking one of the earliest large-scale photovoltaic installations in the country. Commissioned in 2019, the facility’s operational status underscores the nation’s strategic shift away from an over-reliance on coal-fired thermal power and natural gas, which have historically dominated the Central Asian energy landscape. With an installed capacity of 100 MW, the plant contributes directly to the stability of the regional grid in the Almaty Region, providing a substantial influx of variable renewable energy to a key economic hub.

Located in Qonayev, the solar park benefits from the region’s high solar irradiance, making it an efficient site for photovoltaic generation. Its development aligns with Kazakhstan’s broader renewable energy expansion goals, which aim to increase the share of non-conventional energy sources (NCE) in the national mix. The 2019 commissioning date places the Nurgisa project among the pioneering phases of Kazakhstan’s solar boom, demonstrating the viability of utility-scale solar power in a climate characterized by significant seasonal variations. This project serves as a practical case study for engineers and investors analyzing the performance of solar assets in Central Asia.

The significance of the Nurgisa Solar Park extends beyond its immediate output. It validates the investment climate for renewable energy in Kazakhstan, encouraging further development of similar projects in the Almaty Region and beyond. By integrating 100 MW of solar capacity into the grid, the plant helps reduce carbon emissions associated with electricity generation, supporting national climate commitments. The operational success of this facility provides critical data on maintenance, efficiency, and grid integration challenges specific to the region, informing future infrastructure planning. As Kazakhstan continues to expand its renewable portfolio, the Nurgisa project remains a foundational element in the country’s energy infrastructure evolution.

History and Development

The facility represents a significant addition to the country's renewable energy infrastructure, contributing to the diversification of the national grid with solar power generation. The project reached full operational status with a total installed capacity of 100 MW, marking it as a substantial utility-scale solar installation in the region. The station became operational in 2019, integrating into the broader energy landscape of Kazakhstan to harness the solar potential of the Almaty Region.

The development of the Nurgisa solar park involved a construction phase that culminated in the commissioning of the facility. The project was completed and officially commissioned in August 2019. This timeline reflects the execution of the engineering and installation works required to bring the 100 MW capacity online. The construction efforts focused on deploying photovoltaic technology suitable for the local environmental conditions in Qonayev. The successful completion of the construction phase allowed the plant to begin feeding electricity into the grid, establishing its role in the regional power supply mix. The August 2019 commissioning date signifies the transition from the construction stage to active energy production for the Nurgisa 100 MW Solar Park.

Technical Specifications

The facility is operational with a total installed capacity of 100 MW. The plant was commissioned in 2019, marking a significant addition to the solar infrastructure in the Almaty Region. The project utilizes photovoltaic technology to convert solar energy into electricity, contributing to the regional energy mix.

Technical Parameters

The technical specifications of the Nurgisa Solar Park are defined by its panel configuration, individual unit output, and land utilization. The plant consists of 303,000 solar panels. Each panel has an output capacity of 330 W. The total land area occupied by the solar park is 270 hectares. These parameters define the scale and efficiency of the photovoltaic installation.

Parameter	Value
Entity Type	Solar Farm
Primary Fuel/Source	Solar
Country	Kazakhstan
Region	Almaty Region
Location	Qonayev
Operational Status	Operational
Commissioned	2019
Capacity	100 MW
Number of Solar Panels	303,000
Output per Panel	330 W
Land Area	270 hectares

The configuration of 303,000 panels, each producing 330 W, supports the total capacity of 100 MW. The 270 hectares of land area provide the spatial requirement for the photovoltaic array in Qonayev. The plant's operation began in 2019. The facility remains operational in Kazakhstan. The technical data reflects the design and scale of the Nurgisa Solar Park.

Finance and Investment

The development of the Nurgisa 100 MW Solar Park was underpinned by a financial structure designed to leverage both domestic capital and strategic institutional lending. The total project cost was established at ₸27.7 billion, reflecting the scale of infrastructure required for a utility-scale photovoltaic installation in the Almaty Region. This capital expenditure covered the procurement of solar modules, balance-of-system components, and the civil works necessary to integrate the plant into the regional grid infrastructure near Qonayev.

Role of the Development Bank of Kazakhstan

A significant portion of the financing was secured through a loan from the Development Bank of Kazakhstan. This institution provided a credit facility of ₸10 billion, which accounted for a substantial share of the total investment. The involvement of the Development Bank highlights the strategic importance placed on renewable energy projects in Kazakhstan during the commissioning period. By accessing this loan, the project developers were able to optimize their capital structure, reducing the immediate equity burden and leveraging long-term debt instruments typical for energy infrastructure with predictable cash flows.

The loan terms and the selection of the Development Bank as a primary lender suggest a focus on stabilizing the financial risk associated with the solar park's early operational years. This financial arrangement is consistent with broader trends in Kazakhstan’s energy sector, where state-backed financial institutions play a critical role in de-risking renewable energy investments. The ₸10 billion loan served as a cornerstone of the project's financial viability, ensuring that the 100 MW capacity could be brought online by the 2019 commissioning date.

The remaining capital, amounting to approximately ₸17.7 billion, was likely sourced through equity contributions and potentially other debt instruments, although the specific breakdown of the non-loan capital is defined by the total cost minus the known loan amount. This financial model allowed for the timely construction and operational launch of the Nurgisa plant, contributing to the diversification of the energy mix in the Almaty Region. The successful financing and subsequent operational status of the plant demonstrate the effectiveness of combining institutional lending with private sector execution in the Kazakhstani solar market.

What distinguishes the Nurgisa Solar Park from other Kazakh projects?

This location places the facility in one of the country’s most significant energy corridors, where the convergence of industrial demand and high solar irradiance makes photovoltaic deployment highly efficient. The Almaty Region has emerged as a primary hub for Kazakhstan’s renewable energy expansion, hosting multiple large-scale solar and wind projects that collectively contribute to the nation’s grid stability. The Nurgisa project, commissioned in 2019, represents a key milestone in this regional transition, leveraging the area’s geographic advantages to deliver consistent power output. Its operational status as a 100 MW photovoltaic station underscores the strategic importance of the Qonayev site within the broader Kazakh energy landscape.

Technical Configuration and Regional Context

As a photovoltaic power station, the Nurgisa 100 MW Solar Park utilizes solar panels to convert direct sunlight into electricity, distinguishing it from concentrated solar power (CSP) plants that rely on mirrors and thermal storage. This technology choice aligns with the prevailing trends in Kazakhstan’s renewable sector, where photovoltaic systems are favored for their cost-effectiveness and scalability. The 100 MW capacity positions the Nurgisa park as a mid-to-large scale installation, comparable to other major solar farms in the Almaty Region. These projects typically feature similar technical specifications, including the use of monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon modules and inverters optimized for the region’s climatic conditions. The Almaty Region’s solar resources, characterized by high annual sunshine hours and relatively low cloud cover, enhance the performance of such photovoltaic arrays, ensuring competitive levelized costs of energy.

While specific technical details such as panel manufacturer or inverter type are not explicitly detailed in the available grounding, the general configuration of the Nurgisa park reflects standard industry practices for solar farms of this size. The facility’s integration into the local grid supports the Almaty Region’s growing energy demand, contributing to the diversification of Kazakhstan’s power mix. Other solar installations in the region, such as the Kyzylorda or Zhetisu parks, share similar technological foundations, emphasizing the standardized approach to solar development in Kazakhstan. The Nurgisa project’s commissioning in 2019 coincides with a period of accelerated renewable energy investment in the country, driven by government incentives and international funding. This timing highlights the strategic role of the Almaty Region in Kazakhstan’s broader energy transition, with Qonayev serving as a focal point for photovoltaic expansion. The park’s operational success contributes to the regional goal of reducing reliance on traditional thermal power, particularly coal-fired plants, which have historically dominated Kazakhstan’s energy sector. By leveraging the natural advantages of the Qonayev location, the Nurgisa 100 MW Solar Park exemplifies the potential of solar energy in driving sustainable growth in Central Asia’s largest economy.

Site Infrastructure and Layout

The Nurgisa 100 MW Solar Park is situated in the Qonayev district of the Almaty Region in Kazakhstan. The facility occupies a total land area of 270 hectares, a scale that reflects the spatial requirements typical of utility-scale photovoltaic installations in Central Asia. This extensive footprint allows for the optimal orientation and spacing of solar arrays to minimize shading losses and maximize energy yield across the operational lifespan of the plant. The site selection in the Almaty Region leverages the area’s favorable solar irradiance conditions, which are critical for the efficiency of photovoltaic technology. The 270-hectare parcel is dedicated primarily to the generation infrastructure, encompassing the module fields, access roads, and auxiliary equipment necessary for continuous operation.

Photovoltaic Module Arrangement

The physical layout of the Nurgisa solar park is designed to house the 100 MW of installed photovoltaic capacity. The arrangement of the modules is structured to facilitate maintenance access and efficient power collection. In large-scale solar farms, the modules are typically organized into strings and connected to inverters that convert direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC) for grid integration. The 270-hectare area provides sufficient space to arrange these arrays in a configuration that balances land use efficiency with operational accessibility. The layout ensures that the photovoltaic panels are positioned to capture maximum sunlight throughout the day and across different seasons. This strategic placement is essential for maintaining the projected output of the 100 MW facility, which has been operational since its commissioning in 2019.

Land Use and Site Development

The development of the 270-hectare site involved significant land preparation to support the photovoltaic infrastructure. The land use is characterized by the installation of mounting structures, electrical cabling, and access pathways that interconnect the various sections of the solar array. The infrastructure is designed to withstand the local environmental conditions of the Qonayev district, ensuring long-term durability and performance. The layout also includes space for balance-of-system components, such as transformers and switchgear, which are critical for stepping up the voltage for transmission to the national grid. The organized arrangement of these elements within the 270-hectare boundary reflects a systematic approach to site planning, optimizing both energy production and operational efficiency. The facility’s design supports its status as an operational asset in Kazakhstan’s growing renewable energy portfolio.

Nurgisa 100 MW Solar Park