ABSTRACT

Greater deployment of non-hydropower renewable energy sources in Central Asia appears to be a rational solution to energy security in the region. However, renewable energy diffusion in Central Asia is at an incipient stage. Moreover, the utilization of renewable energy sources varies substantially across the region. Whereas fossil fuel-rich, more developed Central Asian economies pursue the deployment of non-hydropower renewable energy sources, water-rich, lower-income countries retain their reliance on large-scale hydropower. This article argues that wider deployment of non-hydropower renewable energy sources is critical for Central Asian countries’ sustainability and attempts to explain the double paradox of plenty through the specifics of institutional environments in energy-poor and rent-dependent Central Asian economies.

摘要

在中亚更多地部署非水电可再生能源似乎是该地区能源安全的合理解决方案。然而，中亚的可再生能源扩散还处于起步阶段。此外，该地区对可再生能源的利用差异很大。尽管富含化石燃料的较发达的中亚经济体追求部署非水电可再生能源，但水资源丰富的低收入国家仍然依赖大型水电。本文认为，更广泛地部署非水电可再生能源对于中亚国家的可持续性至关重要，并试图通过能源贫乏和租金依赖的中亚经济体的制度环境细节来解释富足的双重悖论。