Kazakhstan’s power system is undergoing a fundamental shift. As the share of inverter-based sources (IBRs) such as solar PV and wind energy grows and conventional synchronous generators gradually retire, the grid is losing the rotational inertia and system strength that those generators have historically provided.
Through the support of GET.transform Leveraged Partnership, the EU4SustainableCentralAsia: Renewable Energy in Central Asia (EURECA) Project has produced two complementary technical reports addressing one of the most pressing challenges in this context. EURECA is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), co-financed by the European Union, and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. Both reports were authored by Energynautics GmbH and are intended to support Kazakhstan’s national electricity system operator, the Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company (KEGOC), as well as the Government of Kazakhstan.
GFM inverters represent a significant advancement over conventional inverter technology. Rather than following grid signals passively, they act as active voltage sources, providing inertial response and stabilising the system in the critical moments following a disturbance. As inverter-based resources become increasingly dominant, integrating GFM standards for BESS is emerging as an essential trend of modern power systems worldwide.
The first report, Review of International Best Practices and Standards for Grid-Forming BESS, provides a structured analysis of 11 international guidelines from Austria, Europe, North America, and South America. It identifies areas of broad technical consensus — including voltage source behaviour, inertial response, weak grid operation, and adequate damping following disturbances — and derives concrete recommendations for how Kazakhstan can align its national standards with leading international frameworks. The Australian and Texan compliance and testing frameworks are highlighted as particularly strong cases for structured verification procedures.
The second report, Recommended Specification for Grid-Forming Inverters, translates this analysis into an actionable technical specification developed specifically for KEGOC, but designed to be applicable to any power system. The document sets out clear functional requirements and verification tests for GFM inverters in utility-scale BESS applications. Each chapter includes explanatory notes summarizing the international evidence base, followed by proposed specification text that can be directly adopted or adapted.
Together, the two reports give KEGOC and the Government of Kazakhstan a solid technical and regulatory foundation for procuring, specifying, and verifying GFM capability as the country’s energy transition accelerates.
Click to read the full reports: Best Practice Review BESS | Recommended Inverter Specifications.
