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International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy | Vol 13 • Issue 1 • 2023128

International Journal of Energy Economics and 
Policy

ISSN: 2146-4553

available at http: www.econjournals.com

International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 2023, 13(1), 128-134.

Comparative Analysis of Strategies for Innovative Development 
of the Fuel and Energy Complex: The Experience of the EU 
Countries

Makpal Zholamanova1*, Nurbakhyt Nurmukhametov2, Mikhail Tolmachev3, Kassymkhan Sarsen4, 
Altyn Amerkhanova5

1Department of Finance, Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Satbaeva St. 2, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan, 2Department 
of Economics, NAO S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University, Ave. Zhenis 62, Nur-Sultan 010005, Kazakhstan, 3Department 
of Business Analysis, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, 49 Leningradsky Prospekt, 125993, 
Moscow, Russian Federation, 4Department of Economic, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Kazakhstan, 5Department 
of Management NJSC, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, 000005, Kaymakam Street, 11, Nur-Sultan, Republic of 
Kazakhstan. *Email: makpalzh@mail.ru

Received: 30 August 2022 Accepted: 20 December 2022 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.13628

ABSTRACT

Most European countries do not have large reserves of natural resources and depend on imported energy resources. In this regard, the government 
of the European Union has approved a new energy policy aimed at developing a “green” economy and combating dependence on non-renewable 
resources. Currently, the European Union is a leader in the development of renewable energy sources. Many states have achieved success in this 
industry, their experience can be used in other countries where alternative energy is not so widespread. This study analyzes and compares existing 
strategies for the innovative development of the fuel and energy complex of EU member states. The process of formation of the EU energy policy 
and its distinctive features were studied. The example of Italy, Germany, Poland, Spain, and Finland was used to study in detail the impact of the 
new energy policy approved by the EU government. The prospects for the introduction of alternative energy sources in the geographical and climatic 
conditions of Kazakhstan have been assessed. Synthesizing the information obtained, a list of tips for the successful development of alternative energy 
in the Republic of Kazakhstan was proposed.

Keywords: European Union, Kazakhstan, Green Economy, Fuel and Energy Complex, Renewable Energy, Natural Resources 
JEL Classifications: Q20, Q30, Q42, Q50

1. INTRODUCTION

The European Union has enormous economic potential. Driven 
by the interests of public safety and energy security, European 
states have modified the fuel and energy balance in favor of 
petroleum products and clean natural gas over coal. However, 
the EU is dependent on energy imports due to a shortage of its 
own natural resources (Pavlenko, 2020). Nevertheless, the EU is 
actively developing alternative energy, increasing the supply of 

“green” electricity every year. As of 2019, the EU is a leader in 
the fight against climate change at the global level. Conventional 
energy, which occupies the bulk of the fuel and energy complex 
of the EU countries, is gradually being replaced by alternative 
energy. Due to the gradual depletion of fossil fuels, the strong 
dependence of some countries on imported energy resources, 
greenhouse gas emissions, and overall levels of pollution, the 
EU energy policy is aimed at the transition to renewable energy 
sources.

This Journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License



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International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy | Vol 13 • Issue 1 • 2023 129

Depending on the geographical location and amount of natural 
resources, different ways of reducing dependence on non-
renewable sources are applied. For example, Sukhotina and 
Tomashevskaya (2019) point out that Germany leads in energy 
consumption but is the largest producer of alternative energy in the 
EU. The United Kingdom, as part of the EU, ranked third on the 
list of total energy consumption, with most ocean energy projects 
continuing to be implemented in the United Kingdom.

Since environmental protection and reduction of pollutant 
emissions is a global task (Tulchynska et al., 2021), the rich 
experience of European countries can be used in other regions 
to improve the fuel and energy complex. Kazakhstan has a large 
territory, so it is necessary to use the potential of the state to expand 
energy production from alternative sources.

This paper presents an analysis and comparison of the energy 
sector of European countries, identifying the best strategies for 
the geographical and climatic conditions of Kazakhstan. The 
features of the fuel and energy complex of some EU countries 
depending on climatic conditions, in particular, Italy, Germany, 
Poland, Spain, and Finland are highlighted. Identified the most 
effective solutions to improve the fuel and energy complex of 
Kazakhstan and justified the need to disseminate renewable 
energy sources.

2. LITERATURE REVIEW

The question of natural resources and the possibility of obtaining 
energy in an environmentally friendly way has been the subject 
of study by many scientists from all European countries. Many 
studies are currently examining the impact of the EU’s new energy 
strategy.

Hewitt et al. (2019) examined the drivers of the EU’s European 
energy policy using examples from Germany, Belgium, France, 
Italy, Spain, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The 
researchers presented a broad sample of the energy strategies of 
different countries. The authors compared the activities of states 
with high dependence on energy imports (Italy, Belgium, and 
Spain), countries with high coal consumption (Poland, Germany, 
and the UK), and countries whose energy dependence has been 
decreasing in recent years (France, Sweden). The comparison 
is also made from the perspective of the largest production of 
electricity from renewable sources. The countries that generate 
the largest share of electricity using photovoltaic systems include: 
Germany, Spain, and Italy. Wind power is most common in 
Germany, Great Britain, and Spain. Hydropower is in Sweden, 
France, and Italy. Countries with less developed renewable energy 
sources include Poland.

Tagliapietra et al. (2019) determined under what conditions a full-
scale energy transition toward renewable energy and zero-carbon 
emissions would be economically and technologically feasible. 
The topic of sustainable development of EU member states is 
addressed in Wieczorek-Kosmala et al. (2021). By conducting 
an empirical analysis of the financial performance of energy 
companies, the authors identified factors for the sustainable 

performance of the energy sector in Europe. Polzin and Sanders 
(2020) explored the possibility of Europe completely abandoning 
conventional energy, identifying a mismatch between the available 
funding for green projects and the required investments to achieve 
zero carbon emissions by 2050.

An assessment of the impact of energy reforms conducted by 
Angheluta et al. (2019). The article numerically assesses the 
progress of European countries on the way to achieving the 
reduction of harmful emissions into the atmosphere and increasing 
the production of energy from renewable sources. A comparative 
analysis of renewable energy data in transportation, electricity, 
heating, and cooling is presented. Studies have shown that in all 
states there is an increase in the use of renewable resources in 
all sectors.

An important point is the security of the energy system. Kovacic 
and Di Felice (2019) compared the discrepancy between the 
political program and the current level of reliability of European 
countries’ power systems. The authors noted that this point is often 
mentioned in energy programs, but in reality, it is often ignored. 
A proposal was made to strengthen control over the security of 
EU energy complexes.

Opportunities for Kazakhstan’s transition to renewable energy are 
considered in the article by Nazarova et al. (2020). The prospects 
for the development of alternative energy sources in the Republic 
of Kazakhstan, in particular wind, solar, biogas, and hydropower, 
were determined. The authors identified the main requirements for 
the implementation of the listed types and assessed the benefits 
of the transition to the use of renewable resources. Prospects for 
the development of the spread of “green” energy sources are also 
considered in the article by Zhunusova and Omarbakiev (2018). 
The researchers believe that in the climatic and geographical 
conditions of Kazakhstan the most efficient production of 
electricity based on solar and wind installations. It is determined 
that hydropower can produce 25 times more energy than the use of 
gas, oil, and coal. Nevertheless, in order to successfully implement 
a renewable energy policy, a number of legal and organizational 
measures must be taken.

3. METHODOLOGY

The methodological approach of this article is based on methods of 
analysis and comparison of the existing energy policies of different 
EU countries, depending on the current situation of their fuel and 
energy complex. The synthesis method was also used, which 
allowed to generalize the information obtained for the introduction 
of alternative energy in the Republic of Kazakhstan. A detailed 
review of the history of the formation of European energy policy 
is necessary The study was conducted in three stages.

The first stage of the article examined the history of the formation 
of European energy policy. The main stages of the formation of the 
EU energy system and the consequences of the adopted directives 
were defined. The main objectives of the European government 
for the coming years are outlined.



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International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy | Vol 13 • Issue 1 • 2023130

At the second stage, the fuel and energy complexes of different 
EU countries were analyzed, and the peculiarities of each state 
were highlighted. The energy systems of Italy, Germany, Poland, 
Finland, and Spain are examined in detail. The strengths and 
weaknesses of each state were identified, their ways of resisting 
dependence on energy imports and the spread of alternative energy 
were studied.

The third stage studied the prospects for introducing renewable 
energy sources in Kazakhstan. Based on the experience of 
European countries, proposed ways to accelerate the development 
of alternative energy. The need to use solar, hydro, wind, and bio-
energy is justified. This issue is considered from the perspective 
of balancing the economy of the country and employment. It is 
indicated what actions should be avoided in the new energy policy.

4. ENERGY POLICY OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION

The history of EU energy policy is divided into three periods, 
which focused on energy security, free competition in the domestic 
market, and the fight against climate change. In 1951 the European 
Coal and Steel Community was created, at that time the main 
source of energy of EU countries was coal. In 1957, the European 
Atomic Energy Community was approved. These were the first 
steps toward a common energy policy based on supranational 
powers. Subsequently, in the 1980s and 1990s, directives were 
issued to liberalize the European energy market in order to 
develop its competitiveness. In addition, the first energy package, 
a collection of directives on gas and electricity in 1996 and 1998, 
respectively, was released. As a result, EU member states were 
to open their energy markets to strengthen their competitiveness, 
security of supply, and protection of nature. However, the actions 
taken did not solve the issue of the lack of a legal framework and 
the absence of a common energy policy. It was not until 2005 that 
the European Council adopted a common European energy policy 
and approved the second energy package, overturning the previous 
one. This gave an impetus to the creation of program-targeted 
documents aimed at improving the sustainability of the energy 
economy, security of supply, etc. Reforms aimed at liberalizing 
the gas and electricity sector were carried out.

Between 2006 and 2007, new energy policy goals were set to 
combat climate change, improve energy security and enhance the 
competitiveness of member states. The status of European energy 
policy was strengthened by the Lisbon Treaty, which was signed 
in 2007 and entered into force in 2009. This gave the European 
Parliament and the Council the ability to pass legislation in the 
field of energy. According to the Treaty, the main objectives are: 
developing the energy market, managing the European oil, gas, 
electricity, and gas network, strengthening the security of energy 
supply, improving energy efficiency, expanding the range of 
“green” energy technologies. In this case, the environmental aspect 
was brought to the forefront. The Third Energy Package, adopted 
in 2009, implies new changes in the sale and transportation of 
gas and electricity. The energy companies have not been able to 
operate the transmission network and produce or sell energy at 

the same time since then and have to be separated. Thus, it has 
served to promote fair competition in the market and reduce the 
cost of energy for consumers. The EU government has worked 
hard to ensure the security of the energy supply and a free energy 
market, achieving its goals. Subsequently, there was an increase in 
the number of reforms affecting the development of green energy.

The European Council 2011 adopted an 80-95% emissions 
reduction target by 2050, and in 2014 a framework on energy 
and climate change was proposed to be implemented by 2030. 
In 2016. The European Commission issued a set of regulatory 
proposals, Clean Energy for All Europeans. Thus, three goals 
were set: to achieve the highest energy efficiency and global 
leadership in the field of alternative energy, as well as to create 
favorable conditions for consumers, in particular, it concerns the 
cost of energy resources. In 2019, the foundations of the new 
energy policy were finalized, the package “Clean Energy for All 
Europeans” was finally formed. The strategy of carbon neutrality 
was approved, a complete shift from fossil fuels to cleaner energy. 
One of the main intentions was to increase energy production from 
renewable sources to 32% by 2030 (Knodt, 2018; Lehotay, 2020).

The effectiveness of the reforms carried out varies greatly from 
country to country. Ossowska and Janiszewska (2020) identified 
four groups of EU member states, depending on the level 
of sustainable energy consumption. The first class denotes a 
favorable situation, the second - rather favorable, the third - rather 
unfavorable, and the fourth - unfavorable. The first group includes 
the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, and Sweden; the share of 
energy production by renewable energy sources in these countries 
was 35%, 41%, and 51%, respectively. Although Denmark and 
Sweden are among the most energy-dependent EU countries, 
and the energy efficiency index is rather low, the governments 
of these countries successfully provide the population with the 
required amount of energy by expanding alternative sources. 
Natural conditions allow extensive use of hydropower in coastal 
areas and hydropower in mountainous areas. The second group 
includes Italy, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Estonia, Greece, 
Croatia, Portugal, and Romania. These countries have the best 
energy efficiency levels. The third group includes Austria, Ireland, 
Germany, Spain, France, Belgium, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Hungary, 
Slovakia, and Slovenia. The energy situation in these countries 
is more difficult. Most of these countries are failing to cope with 
the reduction of harmful emissions into the atmosphere. There 
is also no positive trend in overcoming energy dependence. The 
last group includes Malta, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Cyprus, 
and Poland. The reasons for this are the lack of natural resources 
in some of the states and the predominance of oil in energy 
consumption. Poland has its own coal reserves, but the use of 
this resource inevitably leads to an increase in carbon dioxide 
emissions, which contradicts the regulations of the European 
Commission. Let’s look at some individual cases.

4.1. Refusal to Import Energy Resources: the Italian 
Experience
In Italy, there is a growing trend to switch to renewable sources, 
while Germany and Poland are failing to meet their goals. Using 
Italy as an example, we can trace how the country is successfully 



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International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy | Vol 13 • Issue 1 • 2023 131

overcoming dependence on fossil fuels, guided by the adopted EU 
programs. In 2000, Italy’s energy system was based on imported 
energy resources. According to Hafner and Raimondi (2020), the 
share of the total demand for fossil fuels was 88%. By 2018, it had 
fallen to 74%. Oil demand was 50%, and by 2018 it had dropped 
to 16%. The volume of alternative energy sources has increased 
from 7% to 20%. Consequently, greenhouse gas emissions have 
decreased, and energy efficiency has increased markedly.

Italy plans to eliminate the use of coal for energy production by 
2025 and to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050. In 2021, 
the Italian government approved the Italian long-term strategy 
to reduce harmful emissions. This process involves the Ministry 
of Environment, Land and Sea, the Ministry of Infrastructure 
and Transport, the Ministry of Economic Development, the 
Ministry of Agricultural, Food, and Forestry Policies, as well as 
numerous research centers. The emission reductions in each sector 
follow a certain scenario. Industrial production must switch to 
renewable fuels and use carbon capture and storage technology. 
The transportation sector must eliminate harmful emissions by 
introducing electrification and green fuels. Agriculture commits to 
reducing waste by offsetting emissions and applying the principles 
of a circular economy. This also includes carbon sequestration 
(Gaeta et al., 2021).

The example of Italy shows that the task of protecting the 
environment while improving energy efficiency can only be solved 
comprehensively.

4.2. Radical Energy Reforms: The German Experience
In the case of Germany, there is a mismatch between goals and 
reality in some sectors. In 1990, there was large-scale consumption 
of fossil fuels, which was associated with a lack of interest in 
switching to renewables. In addition, a large share of the population 
was employed in conventional energy. Nuclear power plants were 
legally exempt from liability insurance. Soon a radical change 
toward alternative energy began. The diversification of the “green” 
energy industry began, and a decision was made to phase out 
nuclear power. In 1991, the German government passed the “Feed-
in Act”, which led to the formation of a “green tariff”. Utilities, 
according to the new law, were obliged to buy electricity generated 
by alternative sources. This decision had a favorable effect on the 
development of “green” energy. The number of investments in this 
sector increased, which led to the expansion of the production of 
alternative sources of electricity.

In 2000, the Renewable Energy Act was introduced, providing 
financial support for producers of decentralized electricity. 
German citizens, in particular farmers and rural residents, 
supported this law. Subsequently, a number of bills were passed 
providing for the development of alternative energy. The energy 
strategy “Energiewende” was approved, aimed at environmental 
protection, development of a “green” economy and alternative 
energy technologies, combating monopolization of the energy 
sector, overcoming dependence on imported natural resources, 
and preventing risks in the operation of nuclear power plants. 
A tax on carbon dioxide producers was introduced. This strategy 
was supposed to improve the environmental situation in the 

fields of heat and electricity supply, as well as in the transport 
system. For example, the attempt to replace non-renewable 
resources in the automobile industry with renewable ones ended 
in failure. The success of alternative sources of heating has also 
been unsuccessful. The large-scale introduction of green energy 
sources has not resulted in significant emission reductions. Since 
the nuclear power industry in Germany has been decommissioned, 
coal-fired thermal power plants have made up for the lack of 
electricity. This is not the whole list of obstacles faced by the 
German government. Nevertheless, Germany is among the leaders 
in the level of investment in alternative energy and the volume 
of solar, wind, and biogas installations. In addition, the state has 
one of the highest rates of electricity supply reliability (Kunze and 
Lehmann, 2019; Rechsteiner, 2020).

Undoubtedly, Germany has achieved the highest results in the 
production of electricity from alternative sources. Nevertheless, 
the state is still dependent on imported natural resources, which 
directly hinders the development of other parts of the fuel and 
energy complex. In addition, the current energy policy has led to 
a high cost of electricity, which causes considerable dissatisfaction 
among the population. The price of electricity is expected to 
fall after 2023 because of the expiration of the contracts signed 
between the government and the producers of “green” electricity, 
which meant supplying energy from renewable sources at a fixed 
price.

4.3. Obstacles to the Transition to Renewable Energy 
Sources: Polish Experience
The Polish government does not support the EU’s carbon-neutral 
policy because coal is the country’s dominant energy source, 
accounting for 80% of its consumption. In addition, the coal 
industry employs about 88,000 Polish citizens on an interregional 
level (Hafner and Raimondi, 2020). Going back to the question of 
employment, abandoning coal would lead to job losses, but this 
judgment is controversial. Ortega-Izquierdo and Río (2020) point 
out that between 2008 and 2016, the spread of alternative energy in 
the EU created more than 2.5 million jobs. By smoothly switching 
to alternative sources, Poland can offset the number of positions in 
the coal sector by creating new ones related to renewable energy.

In order to remove public opposition and dissatisfaction with 
energy substitution, Germany intends to pay compensation in 
those regions where there is the most pronounced dependence on 
coal production. This factor should be taken into account, since in 
Kazakhstan the coal industry is one of the key industries, and the 
use of coal in thermal power plants is 80% (Drozd et al., 2020).

4.4. Leadership in Maritime Technological Innovation: 
The Finnish Experience
Finland’s fuel and energy complex is rich in natural resources, 
but the government is striving to expand the use of environmental 
resources. There are some obstacles to this task. Finland’s energy 
policy is currently focused on short-term increases in cost-effective 
renewable energy production. For the long term, a number of issues 
about subsidizing projects need to be resolved. For example, there 
is currently a debate about further subsidies for wind power. To 
support alternative energy, Finland has also obliged carbon dioxide 



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International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy | Vol 13 • Issue 1 • 2023132

producers to pay taxes, but unlike Germany, this system has not 
been as effective (Paukku, 2021).

Finland has not yet developed the alternative energy generation 
sector, but the country is leading the way in maritime technological 
innovation. Recently, the most significant Finnish project is 
INTENS, which covers the digitalization and decarbonization 
of water transport. The project name implies integrated energy 
solutions for smart and green shipping. INTENS technologies 
enable physics-based machine learning to predict onboard energy 
consumption, which directly improves ship energy efficiency. New 
design methods in the field of shipbuilding are proposed. The use 
of artificial intelligence helps to optimize the shipbuilding process 
at an early stage, allowing to anticipate and prevent possible 
costs (Zou and Hänninen, 2021). The use of smart technology 
is not the only way to improve the environmental and economic 
performance of waterborne transportation. Financial monitoring 
of companies in the port sector is necessary, which will help 
preserve the environment, prevent the outflow of money into the 
shadow economy, and prevent the use of transport for smuggling. 
There is a high probability of oil spills, uncontrolled emissions of 
harmful substances, accidents during transportation of dangerous 
cargoes, etc. Application of a risk-oriented approach may improve 
the financial stability of ports. It is necessary to impose fines in 
case of outflow of resources into the shadow economy sector, 
non-compliance with environmental protection rules, smuggling. 
Financial monitoring is an effective element of the management 
system to identify and prevent possible problems (Oneshko and 
Ilchenko, 2017). Taking into account the above information, 
Kazakhstan can improve the efficiency of water transport, in 
particular on the Caspian Sea.

4.5. Unstable Development of Solar Energy: The 
Spanish Experience
Spain has enormous photovoltaic potential among EU countries 
due to its favorable climate conditions. In the 2000s, Spain became 
the European leader in the number of solar panel installations, 
which contributed to the creation of new jobs in the renewable 
energy sector. This progress was greatly influenced by the 
regulatory framework and government subsidies during a period 
of economic growth. Since 2007, Spain has pursued an aggressive 
policy to stimulate solar energy production. At that time, the cost 
of photovoltaic systems was low, and investment flows from the 
construction sector shifted to the photovoltaic solar energy sector. 
Credit opportunities were made available for the development of 
the solar energy sector, and the banking system provided support. 
This led to a disproportionate increase in photovoltaic power 
generation, which grew by 300% per year.

The situation changed due to the economic crisis in Spain in 2008-
2012, which led to the reduction of feed-in tariffs for solar energy 
production and, eventually, to the stagnation of the photovoltaic 
market. Since 2009, the number of Spanish energy companies in 
the sector has declined due to the impact of government policies. In 
2012, with the introduction of regulatory reforms to address tariff 
deficits and the instability of the electricity system, this process 
accelerated. After carrying out numerous reforms to improve the 
energy industry, a new period of photovoltaic upswing began in 

2016. By 2018, the number of energy companies was close to 
the number that existed in 2007. However, the development of 
solar energy has not significantly accelerated due to decreased 
government support and worsening economic conditions in the 
country. Given Spain’s current energy policy, the elimination of 
the feed-in tariff system for the alternative energy market could 
also hinder progress in reducing harmful emissions. Consequently, 
Spain risks falling behind other EU member states in the process 
of achieving carbon neutrality, as approved by the Green Economy 
Strategy at the supranational level (Blanco-Díez et al., 2020; 
Fernández-González et al., 2021).

4.6. Prospects for the Introduction of Alternative 
Energy in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan has great potential for the introduction of renewable 
energy sources, including hydropower, wind, solar, and biomass. 
However, to date, except for the partial application of hydropower, 
other options have not been properly developed. The presence of 
huge reserves of natural resources is one of the main reasons for 
the low rate of development of alternative energy. Kazakhstan, 
unlike most European countries, does not depend on imported 
energy resources and is able to maintain the energy sector from 
its own reserves. The second reason is the low interest of the 
government in the development of green energy, which leads to 
low involvement in the expansion of renewable technologies and 
the lack of adequate funding. The southeastern region successfully 
combines simultaneous power generation from hydroelectric 
power plants and wind farms. These power plants complement 
each other in terms of seasonal electricity generation, i.e., primarily 
from wind farms during colder periods of the year and from 
hydroelectric power plants during warmer periods. The use of 
solar panels in the southern regions can also have a favorable effect 
on increasing the share of electricity production and improve the 
environmental background. Nevertheless, Kazakhstan lags behind 
the EU in this industry due to the lack of solar panel production 
(Kurmanov, 2019).

Using the experience of European countries, Kazakhstan can 
accelerate the development of alternative energy. Following the 
example of Germany and Italy, it is necessary to gradually reform 
the energy sector. Partnership with scientific institutions of EU 
countries will contribute to the further development of “green” 
technologies. The introduction of renewable energy sources will 
improve not only the environment but also the economy of the 
state.

5. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The widespread distribution of alternative energy sources would 
undoubtedly improve the environmental situation in the world. 
Nevertheless, such a strategy is a real challenge for countries 
whose economic potential is small. In addition, a green economy 
policy is inherently linked to the redistribution of jobs. European 
countries, whose fuel and energy complex is inherently linked to 
high levels of coal consumption, are not making radical changes 
in energy policy. This can lead to large-scale job losses. The 
abrupt transition to renewable energy sources is unprofitable 
for some countries. For this reason, Poland has no intention of 



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International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy | Vol 13 • Issue 1 • 2023 133

abandoning the coal industry in the near future. Nevertheless, 
there is a solution to this issue. The number of jobs can be 
compensated by new vacancies in the alternative energy sector. 
At the same time, the country may not have much potential for 
the expansion of solar and wind energy due to its geographical 
location. Blanco-Díez et al. (2020) point to a high rate of job 
growth in Spain’s bioenergy sector, which exceeds that of 
solar and wind energy. It is clear that the process of re-training 
conventional energy professionals in the case of a complete 
transition to renewable sources requires significant effort and 
funding for the training program. To achieve high results, 
attention must be paid to training workers with the required 
qualifications. Britchenko and Saienko (2017) note that the 
process of training a specialist has a serious philosophical basis 
and requires the study of the level of mental and physical qualities 
of the person. Considering the unstable energy market in Spain 
and the sharp fluctuations of functioning companies, it should 
be concluded that it is necessary to maintain the performance 
of the enterprise. Khan et al. (2021) consider this issue from 
the side of maintaining the reputation of the company and the 
relationship with the consumer.

For the successful development of renewable energy in 
Kazakhstan, first of all, it is necessary to support the government 
at the financial and legislative level. The German energy system 
has achieved tremendous development in the production 
of electricity from alternative sources and can rightfully be 
considered a benchmark. Drawing a parallel between Spain and 
Germany, we can consider an important factor that has led to 
the stalling of the development of the renewable energy sector. 
The reduction of subsidies and feed-in tariffs in Spain led to a 
decline in the generation of energy from alternative sources, 
while the strong support of Germany contributed to the rapid 
development of all sectors of “green” energy. Unlike Germany, 
Kazakhstan has its own natural resources and does not need to 
import oil, natural gas, coal, and other natural resources. The 
unpopularity of renewable sources is largely due to the fact 
that it is economically unprofitable for the republic to reform 
its energy system. However, ignoring environmental protection 
will inevitably lead to an increase in population morbidity. 
Samoilenko (2018) believes that the adopted law of the Republic 
of Kazakhstan “On the support of renewable energy sources” 
should be improved and directed to the regulation of alternative 
energy, and renewable energy sources should be introduced into 
the economic turnover.

The use of alternative forms of energy is not limited to the use 
of solar, wind, and tidal energy. It is possible to effectively 
use biofuels in the transport and communication complex of 
the country. The paper mentioned that the efficiency of water 
transport can be achieved by using high-tech technologies with 
the introduction of artificial intelligence, but this is not the only 
option. There are solar-powered ships around the world. The power 
produced by solar batteries cannot supply the energy system of 
big ships. That’s why only small ships can use this technology. 
However, the use of biofuel can solve this problem. Sorokina and 
Cherkaev (2021) analyze the prospects of biofuel development 
in Kazakhstan and compare methods of production of biodiesel, 

bioethanol, and biogas. The authors determined that the use of 
this resource can replace the traditional fuel to run the engines of 
ships and road transport.

The fuel and energy complex of any country includes the coal, 
peat, oil and gas, nuclear, and electric power industries. This 
paper does not cover the entire list. The greatest focus is on 
electricity production, partially affecting the oil, gas, coal, and 
nuclear industries of European nations. The EU’s new energy 
policy aims to completely reduce carbon dioxide emissions and 
overcome dependence on energy imports. Most countries have 
been successful in meeting their targets, but some states have 
to work harder to achieve carbon neutrality while stabilizing 
their economies. Nevertheless, EU policies are at the forefront 
of environmental conservation. Following the EU example, 
Kazakhstan can successfully implement a new energy policy. 
Studying the history of EU energy policy development will help 
prevent earlier mistakes made in other countries. The example 
of Spain shows that it is extremely important to control the level 
of financial support for alternative energy projects, preventing 
overfunding or underfunding. Drawing on Germany’s experience, 
it is necessary to control electricity prices.

The transition to alternative energy can be a serious challenge 
for Kazakhstan’s economy. Nevertheless, it is a necessary step to 
improve the environmental situation in the country and around 
the world. Renewable energy sources are inherently linked to 
improving the quality of life and safety of the population, and with 
the right strategy can increase the economy of the state.

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