Kyrgyzstan Generates Power from First Wind Farm, Signals Shift Beyond Hydropower

Kyrgyzstan has started generating electricity from its first-ever wind power project, a landmark step in the country’s transition beyond hydropower, according to local media reports. The announcement was made by Kundus Kyrbasheva, head of the Green Stations Association, who highlighted the strategic importance of the project being developed by a domestic company, Metrum TEK.

The wind farm is located near Balykchy in the Issyk-Kul region and is being developed within the Karakol Free Economic Zone. Backed by an investment of around USD 100 million, the project is designed to reach a total installed capacity of 100 megawatts, making it the country’s first utility-scale wind facility.

Phased Development Plan

The project is being implemented in two stages. Phase I involves the installation of 21 wind turbines with a combined capacity of 50 MW. Phase II will add 20 turbines, each rated at 2.5 MW, taking the total capacity to 100 MW once fully commissioned.

When fully operational, the wind farm will supply electricity to the Issyk-Kul region and is also expected to support power exports through the CASA-1000 transmission corridor, which links Central Asian electricity producers with markets in South Asia.

Diversifying a Hydro-Dominated Power Mix

Kyrgyzstan’s power system has historically relied on hydropower, which accounts for about 90 percent of national electricity generation. The government has set a target to raise the share of renewable energy sources to 10 percent by 2030, making wind and solar critical to future capacity additions.

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, Kyrgyzstan had zero megawatts of installed solar capacity at the end of 2024, underscoring how early-stage the country’s non-hydro renewable market remains.

Pipeline of Large Solar Investments

Alongside wind, Kyrgyzstan has announced a series of large solar initiatives in recent months. In November 2025, the National Investment Agency and Hungary-based Electron Holding agreed to develop up to 300 MW of solar capacity, with planned investments of around USD 300 million.

In July, the Ministry of Energy signed an agreement with Vietnam’s Rox Energy Global and RECA LLC to develop a 1.9 GW solar project in the northeast of the country. An official update in November confirmed that 104.5 MW of solar panels had already been delivered to the site, with the first 150 MW phase scheduled for completion in the first half of 2026.

Separately, in October, the Energy Ministry concluded an investment agreement with a consortium of Chinese companies for a 250 MW solar power project, which is targeted for completion in 2027.

Regional and Global Context

Energy experts note that global wind power capacity is expected to expand significantly by 2030. Combined with advances in energy storage technologies, wind energy is becoming more reliable and cost-competitive, positioning Kyrgyzstan to benefit from these global trends.

The development also comes amid growing regional momentum, following reports that Azerbaijan has recently launched the largest wind farm in the Caucasus. With its first wind project now delivering electricity, Kyrgyzstan is taking an initial but symbolic step towards diversifying its energy mix and reducing long-term reliance on hydropower alone.