Herbert Smith Freehills advises Masdar on landmark investment agreement between UAE and Kazakhstan to develop 1GW of renewables capacity

Herbert Smith Freehills has advised one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies Masdar on the landmark investment agreement and the power purchase agreement for the development of their 1GW windfarm in Kazakhstan.

The wind farm is Masdar’s inaugural project in Kazakhstan, Central Asia's largest economy. It is located in the Jambyl region of the country and also features a 600-megawatt-hour (MWh) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).

The 1GW wind project is being co-developed by W Solar, Qazaq Green Power (a Samruk-Kazyna Group company), and the Kazakhstan Investment Development Fund, with Masdar as the lead developer.

It represents a significant investment in the country’s potential as a major clean energy producer and is set to be one of the largest wind farms in the CIS region. Aligned with the UAE’s support for Kazakhstan’s ambitious climate action plans, the project builds on the commitment made between the two governments to cooperatively develop Kazakhstan’s renewables sector.

The wind farm in the Jambyl region will help accelerate Kazakhstan’s energy transition, supporting the country’s ambitions to increase renewables capacity to 15 percent of its energy supply by 2030 (and to 50 percent by 2050) and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

The core team included partners Danila Logofet and Martin Kavanagh and associate Maria Zerkalova, supported by senior associates Jad Nasr and Adel Shageev and associates Amro Al-Ahmar and Youssef Khalil.