Astana Expo 2017: Shaping the Future of Energy

By Astana EXPO 2017

Green energy is no longer a mere dream, but the not-too-distant future. The availability of clean technologies gives the world a chance to win the struggle with climate change by creating a new world energy matrix.

We are on the threshold of a new reality where green energy will be an indispensable part of every country’s economy. In 2016, UNEP experts recorded an unprecedented increase in total capacity of green power plants — 138.5 GW versus 127.8 GW in 2015. In addition, there is a downward tendency in the price of implementation of these energy sources. Thus, the volume of renewable energy investment decreased by 23%, equaling 2013 indicators of $241.6 billion. This enables countries and companies to extensively use the green technologies that are becoming more available.

This summer representatives of 115 countries and 22 international organizations will gather in the capital of Kazakhstan at EXPO 2017 ‘Future Energy’. They will discuss prospects for industry development and sign the Manifesto of Values and Principles, following the example of the Kyoto Protocol, to encourage further stable development of the planet.

The exposition will become a platform where the participating countries will present the most important projects in the field of renewable energy in their pavilions.

In 2016 China invested almost $80 billion in green energy (UNEP report), once again retaining its leading status. In its Green Silk Road pavilion, the country will not only tell about its history, culture and strategy of stable development and technologies in the context of the “One Belt, One Road” economic initiative, but will also demonstrate the production of clean energy in daily life.

Russia in its turn will showcase its potential in the field of renewable energy by the example of the Arctic. Guests of the exposition, called United Energy Flow, will suddenly find themselves in the vast territories of Russian North and will even be able to see and touch an actual iceberg.

Germany, Europe’s second largest investor in renewable energy, will carry visitors into the City of Future, where one can see an animated laser show that will once again remind people that the main driving force of the energy shift is human. The pavilion will also present a wind farm model, sun panels, Smart Grid and Smart Home systems and energy saving technologies.

Kazakhstan, hosting the green exposition, despite a large oil and gas supply, is implementing a target policy of renewable energy development. The republic has great potential for extensive use of all kinds of renewable energy sources. By 2030, the share of renewable energy sources in Kazakhstan’s total electricity generation is planned to reach 10%, and by 2050 half of the power produced in the country is to be green.

Kazakhstan’s pavilion will attract the attention of visitors to EXPO 2017. It will be located on the ground floor of Nur-Alem, the world’s largest sphere-shaped building. One can get acquainted with the history, culture and nature of the republic and the country’s development strategy here. On other floors of the building, space, solar, wind, biomass, water and kinetic energy will be presented in an interactive and informative way.

The world’s most interesting projects in green energy will be showcased in the Energy Best Practices Area. The international choice commission, which includes Nobel Prize laureates, has selected 24 projects from 13 countries. One of the most interesting ones, Solar Impulse, is the first solar-paneled airplane to successfully complete a round-the-world flight, which attracted the attention of people all over the world. This pavilion will also present the Glowee startup. Young scientists from France have developed an unusual technology for energy production based on the bioluminescence of marine organisms.

From June 10 through September 10, the capital of Kazakhstan will become a place that unites the whole world.