Local Perceptions of Green Hydrogen in Western Kazakhstan
In November 2025, Dr. Philipp Schroeder and Dr. Nurlykhan Aljanova conducted fieldwork in Western Kazakhstan as part of the CRP project "Towards a Comparative, Interdisciplinary and Applied Ethnological Perspective on Entrepreneurship in the IT and Green Economy Industries of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan."
Field research took place in Aktau and Atyrau — two regions central to Kazakhstan's energy transition. Using qualitative methods, the team conducted in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with industry experts, municipal officials, environmental practitioners, and members of local business communities. Special attention was given to youth and women, whose perspectives are often underrepresented in energy policy debates.
The research is important because large-scale green hydrogen projects are not only technical or economic interventions, but deeply social ones. Local acceptance, trust, and expectations can significantly influence implementation outcomes and long-term sustainability.
The findings will inform an academic article intended for submission to a Q1 entrepreneurship journal and contribute to policy discussions surrounding Kazakhstan's hydrogen strategy.
