Central Asia’s electricity demand to rise 27% by 2030, EDB says

Central Asia’s electricity demand is projected to increase by 27% by 2030, according to Arman Akhunbayev, head of the Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) Centre for Sector Analysis.

He said that industrial expansion, the opening of new enterprises, urban growth and the digitalization of the economy are all pushing electricity use higher.

“By 2030, electricity demand in the region will grow by 27%, or more than a quarter. To keep energy shortages from becoming a barrier to the economy, capacity and grids for new factories and expanding cities must be prepared now,” Akhunbayev said.

The EDB says that constructing new power plants by itself will not be sufficient. It also says transmission networks must be upgraded, energy storage systems developed and reserve capacity created at the same time. The expansion of renewable energy sources will also add further pressure on power systems.

Central Asian countries are planning to build solar and wind power plants with a total capacity of more than 35 gigawatts by 2035. Experts caution that if power grids are not modernized and energy systems are not coordinated, growing consumption will raise the risk of shortages.