You’re referring to this steppe country, I suppose?
http://www.ndfu.org/newsroom/viewNews.asp?ID=151

Do you really believe Kazakhstan (a ‘stan the last time I checked) can’t find funding for “energy” projects?

As for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan struggling (perpetually) to find funding for building or overhauling energy facilities, the cause is more likely that potential investors don’t see any way to earn money on investments in this area. These projects are essentially high-risk, low-return … which isn’t a winning combination.

As for wind power, the same issue that limits its growth in the US keeps the Central Asian steppes from becoming wind power money makers — the absence of transmission lines connecting desolate, wind-blown places to the (generally non-windy) population centers where electricity is needed. And in Central Asia, you’re talking about building out a transmission grid that crosses international borders. These countries already don’t play well together with the existing electrical grid. I can’t imagine how they’d come to agreements on building new transmission lines, on who pays what, and how much, etc.

And after looking at your blog, you probably would be interested in this, too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv2tTRg9QuU

OK, I have to go back to posting with a serious face, now, I think.

Fergana Valey becoming more fertile because of glacier melting. Maybe that’ll happen, but Uzbekistan’s record of water management and irrigation suggests it’s unlikely.

Wind power–it’s a great idea and hopefully that will in fact be the future. Wind power, however, is extremely expensive, and as long as Russia and Kazakhstan offer discount rates on gas and oil to their neighbors in order to keep them politically pliant, I doubt these poor countries will be willing to invest in such a long-term project.

Otherwise I really enjoyed the post, although I can’t really say you’ve simplified the issues of Central Asian energy through Subterranean Homesick Blues. If it’s not a secret, may I inquire about what energy conference you’re coming from (I dabble in energy meself)

This is absolutely true. Not only does it have conditions that make the generation of clean energy fruitful, but it doesn’t face the population/urbanization problems of first world countries when trying to implement the technology in largely uninhabited stretches of land.

In the first world, a wind turbine can usually pay for itself in 1-6 years, depending on the conditions, which is pretty great for a consistent clean renewable energy source. The problem, as you identify, is clear: wind turbines are currently of significant expense, and the economy that would pay out the cost of the turbine in kWh simply doesn’t exist. It’s a shame, and a big one–wind power would be an excellent way to not only generate clean renewable sustainable energy, but would be a great chit towards establishing an electricity grid that could feed the otherwise sparse population an energy source besides. As it is, it’s really more of a pipe dream.

great post.