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OS Power supplies energy storage systems on LFP lithium and NFPP sodium chemistry, 48 V batteries for telecom base stations, modular data centers and gensets to Kazakhstan. For the cold north and centre of the country the core technology is sodium NFPP: the modules discharge at -40 °C without heating. The OS Power regional centre in Astana is opening, and we start projects with a pilot at the customer site.
Energy storage in Kazakhstan: market conditions
The economics and the technical design of a site in Kazakhstan are shaped by three conditions: harsh winters, growth of telecom and computing infrastructure, and limited spare grid capacity. Here is what matters for a project.
| Factor | What matters for the project |
|---|---|
| Climate | winters down to -40 °C in the north and centre: sodium chemistry and heating are standard requirements |
| Telecom and data centers | telecom operators, data centers and computing clusters are the priority storage customers |
| AI clusters | Data Center Valley in Ekibastuz: the first 125 MW data center in 2027, up to 1 GW in the long term; expansion of AI sites in Kosshy |
| Autonomy | data centers with government data require 72 hours of autonomy |
| Grid capacity | spare industrial capacity is hard to find; storage reduces the declared connection capacity |
| Tariffs | storage economics are calculated from the site contract with the power supplier |
Batteries for telecom base stations in Kazakhstan
An outdoor base station cabinet in winter is the hardest place for a battery. LFP lithium must not be charged below 0 °C without heating: if the heater fails, the battery cannot recover its charge after a grid outage. Lead-acid batteries deliver about 40 % of capacity at -20...-30 °C, so operators install a set twice as large for the same autonomy.
OS Power NFPP sodium 48 V modules of 100 and 160 Ah charge from -20 °C and discharge at -40 °C without heating, while LFP 48 V modules suit heated equipment rooms. The modules fit a 19-inch rack in place of lead-acid, work with the existing rectifier system and can be rolled out in stages. See solutions for telecom operators and the cold and heat scenario.
| Parameter | Lead-acid | LFP lithium | NFPP sodium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available capacity at -20 °C | about 40 % | about 65 % | 93 % |
| Available capacity at -40 °C | about 25 % | does not operate | 80 % |
| Charging in frost | limited | only with heating | from -20 °C |
| Battery compartment heating | insulation and heating | heating below 0 °C | not needed |
BESS for industrial sites in Almaty and Astana
For industrial and commercial sites, storage solves four tasks: peak shaving, operation under insufficient allocated capacity, backup during outages and integration of solar or wind generation. We select the configuration for the load profile and site climate: for the northern and central regions, sodium NFPP or LFP in an insulated, heated version.
| Task | OS Power solution |
|---|---|
| Peak shaving and load shifting | LFP cabinets of 215 and 261 kWh for industrial sites |
| Site in a cold climate | NFPP sodium cabinets of 115 and 200 kWh; the 115 kWh cabinet operates from -25 °C |
| Insufficient connection capacity | storage covers the gap between allocated and required capacity |
| Grids and renewables | containers: LFP 5.0 MWh and sodium 2.4 MWh |
Modular data center in Kazakhstan
For data centers in Kazakhstan the key factors are frost, autonomy requirements and grid capacity. The OS Power containerized data center operates outdoors at -40...+55 °C, and the 1-5 MW prefabricated data center at -40...+45 °C. Free cooling in Astana works 4-7 months a year, so hybrid cooling schemes are needed.
We supply the site together with its power infrastructure: OS Power storage for 1-4 hours, gensets with fuel for 48-72 hours and 6-35 kV power modules. This helps meet autonomy requirements and declare a lower connection capacity. Country conditions are on modular data centers by country, and cold-climate design is in cold and heat.
Gensets and hybrid power
For remote sites, sites without a reliable grid and industrial backup, OS Power supplies diesel gensets of 6-4,000 kVA, 48 V DC gensets for base stations and containerized power blocks. For frost they come in insulated containers with heating of coolant, oil, fuel and starter batteries. In a hybrid with sodium storage the genset runs less often and at an efficient load.
How we work in Kazakhstan
The OS Power regional centre in Astana is opening. The OS Power management team spent twenty years running telecom operators in Russia and Central Asia and knows how an operator selects a supplier and what happens to a site in winter. Certification and declarations for EAEU requirements are handled by the Russian company of the group.
We validate new equipment with a pilot at customer sites before procurement, with pilot terms agreed in writing. To discuss a site, use contacts: an engineer replies within one business day.
| Pilot term | Content |
|---|---|
| Scope and duration | up to 10 modules, 3-6 months at 1-3 sites, including outdoor ones |
| Criteria | capacity, cycles, temperatures and rectifier communication agreed before start |
| Split of work | samples, logistics and certification by OS Power; site and access by the customer |
| Outcome | report on cycles and temperatures; framework agreement within 60 days if criteria are met |
Questions and answers
Which energy storage suits the Kazakh winter?
Sodium NFPP: 48 V modules charge from -20 °C and discharge at -40 °C without heating. For industrial sites, sodium cabinets and containers or LFP in an insulated, heated version.
Does OS Power have a presence in Kazakhstan?
The OS Power regional centre in Astana is opening. Requests for sites in Kazakhstan are accepted via contacts.
Can we test the batteries at our own sites first?
Yes. A pilot covers up to 10 modules at 1-3 sites for 3-6 months; samples, logistics and certification are on us, and success criteria are agreed in writing before start.
Is a modular data center suitable for winter in Astana?
Yes. The containerized data center operates at -40...+55 °C and the prefabricated one at -40...+45 °C; insulation, heating when IT load is off and hybrid cooling are part of the design.
How can a data center meet the 72-hour autonomy requirement?
By combining OS Power storage for 1-4 hours with gensets carrying fuel for 48-72 hours; the scope is calculated for the load and redundancy requirements.