SUSTAINABLE SITING OF WIND FARMS IN KAZAKHSTAN: A CASE STUDY OF THE KARAGANDA REGION

This study aims to evaluate the environmental and spatial suitability of the planned Giperborey 50 MW wind power plant near Osakarovka in the Karaganda Region of Kazakhstan and to determine whether the site meets technical, ecological and socio-economic requirements for development. The appraisal combined site observations; analysis of climatic records from the nearest Kazhydromet station to characterise wind resource and seasonal extremes; field noise measurements with a class-1 sound level meter and sound-propagation modelling in WindPro; avifaunal monitoring during the autumn migration period and a first-stage Scottish Natural Heritage collision-risk calculation with seasonal adjustment; vegetation and soil transects; line-of-sight and photographic documentation of visual exposure; and an assessment of land use, access routes and proximity to the electrical grid. Instruments were field-calibrated before and after measurements, and visual checks used representative viewpoints at standard observer height. Avian surveys covered peak dawn and dusk period s within defined migration windows. Results indicate favourable wind conditions, with an annual mean speed above approximately 4.7 m/s and limited calm periods; gently undulating steppe on predominantly low-value grazing land; and the absence of critical habitats within the project footprint. Modelled operational noise remains ≤ 55 dB at the nearest residential receptors, and th e 40 dB contour does not extend beyond the project boundary. Compliance held under downwind and neutral stability assumptions applied in the model. Migration counts recorded low use of the rotor-swept zone by high-risk species, and predicted collision totals fall below commonly applied screening thresholds. Visual checks show limited exposure of nearby settlements, and access logistics are feasible via existing roads with minor upgrades. Public interviews indicated neutral-topositive attitudes associated with expectations of local employment and infrastructure improvement. Overall, under the assessed conditions, the site satisfies the study criteria for environmentally compatible development.