French energy major TotalEnergies has taken a final investment decision (FID) on Mirny wind and battery storage project – a major renewable energy development in Kazakhstan, after committing approximately $1.2 billion to the development.
The project is one of the most significant clean energy investments in Central Asia and represents Kazakhstan’s long-term investment in its power sector. TotalEnergies’s FID on Mirny wind and battery storage project has also been achieved despite ongoing legal and regulatory disputes involving Kashagan offshore oilfield in the Caspian Sea.
Mirny Wind and Battery Energy Storage Project: Overview
The $1.2 billion Mirny project is designed as a hybrid renewable energy facility, combining 1 GW wind generation with 300 MW/600 MWh battery energy storage. It is located in Zhambyl region of southern Kazakhstan, and targets full capacity operation start by 2029.
The facility also ranks among the largest wind farms in Central Asia, with the ability to power up to one million people from 4 billion kWh of clean electricity generated annually. It will also significantly reduce carbon emissions by about 3.5 million tons of CO2 each year.
Additionally, a key technological feature of the Mirny renewable energy project is the integration of large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS). The BESS will help stabilize intermittent wind generation and improve grid reliability. This has proven to be an increasingly important factor for emerging renewable markets around the world.
Fact Sheet for Mirny Wind and Battery Energy Storage Project in Kazakhstan
Location: Zhambyl
Capacity: 1 GW wind plus 300MW/600 MWh battery storage
Investment: $1.2 billion
Developers: TotalEnergies (60%), KazMunayGas (20%), Samruk Energy (20%)
Partner: Masdar
Construction Start: 2026
Commissioning: 2029
National Impact: Supports Kazakhstan’s 15% renewables target by 2030
The $1.2 Billion Mirny Project Advancing Kazakhstan’s and TotalEnergies’ Renewable Energy Ambitions
The Mirny renewable energy project sits at the intersection of several strategic priorities for both Kazakhstan and TotalEnergies.
For Kazakhstan, the development supports national targets to increase renewable energy’s share of electricity generation to 15% by 2030. Also in sight is the reduction of reliance on coal-heavy power systems.
For TotalEnergies, the investment advances its goal of becoming a global integrated power player, targeting 100 GW of installed renewable capacity by 2030.
Mirny wind and battery storage project also forms part of Kazakhstan–France energy cooperation. The cooperation between the two countries has been formalized, in recent diplomatic talks, through intergovernmental agreements aimed at investing in decarbonization and technology transfer.
Furthermore, Mirny will be incorporated into a renewables partnership with Masdar. This will enable cost-sharing and scaling across Asian markets.
Mirny Wind and Battery Energy Storage Project: Cost
The project’s financing structure is as follows:
TotalEnergies stake: 60%
Partners:
- KazMunayGas – 20%
- Samruk Energy – 20%
External financing: 75% of total project cost
The heavy reliance on external financing also indicates strong interest from international lenders and development institutions in Kazakhstan’s renewable energy pipeline.
Additionally, the project is backed by a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) signed in June 2023 by TotalEnergies. The PPA acts as security, ensuring revenue stability and bankability over the lifecycle of Mirny wind and battery storage project.
Project Developer, Contractors and Stakeholders
Developer: Aktas Energy JV
Lead Investor: TotalEnergies
Equity Partners:
- KazMunayGas
- Samruk Energy
Renewable Partner: Masdar
Battery Storage Technology: Supplied by TotalEnergies affiliate Saft
EPC Contractors:
- The Shanghai Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
- Shanghai Electric Group
- GCD Partner LLP
Turbine Suppliers:
- Sany Renewable Energy supplying 26 turbines, 7.7 MW each
- Envision Energy supplying 124 turbines, 6.5 MW each.
Project Outlook
Mirny is expected to become a flagship renewable project in Central Asia, both in scale and in its hybrid wind-storage design. Its success could also attract further international investment into Kazakhstan’s clean energy sector, particularly as global investors seek low-cost, high-resource wind markets.
For TotalEnergies, Mirny wind and battery storage project makes for a strong case in emerging-market renewables. This will also complement the French oil and gas multinational company’s expanding portfolio across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
What Could Possibly Go Wrong
Despite its strong outlook, the project is not without challenges. Kazakhstan has been involved in high-profile legal disputes with international oil companies, including multi-billion-dollar claims linked to major fields such as Kashagan. Kashagan is one of the largest offshore oil discoveries in the world, supplying countries such as China through the Kazakhstan–China pipeline, which is also among the longest oil pipelines in the world.
These tensions have already influenced investor behavior, most notably Shell plc pausing further investments in the country. This raises questions about long-term regulatory stability.
Grid integration challenges for large-scale renewables and the dependence on external financing conditions also pose additional risks.
