Mongolia Air Energy Storage Project

Will Mongolia have a battery energy storage system?

A planned battery energy storage system for Mongolia will be the largest of its type in the world and provide a blueprint for other developing countries to follow as they decarbonize their power systems. Mongolia’s coal-dependent energy sector accounts for about two thirds of Mongolia’s greenhouse gas emissions.

What is the proposed project in Mongolia?

The proposed project is included in the Country Operations Business Plan for Mongolia (2020-2021). The outcome targets of the proposed project are (i) 610 GWh of annual renewable power evacuated; (ii) 44 GWh of annual imported peak time electricity reduced; and (iii) at least 650,000 tons of CO2 emissions avoided per year.

Why is air pollution a problem in Mongolia?

Air pollution-related illnesses cause over 7,100 deaths annually, with economic losses reaching 10% of Mongolia’s GDP. The problem is exacerbated by rapid urbanization, extreme winters, and coal subsidies that keep fossil fuels as the cheapest option.

What is the Solar Facility project?

The Solar Facility Project builds on UNDP’s 2024 pilot, which tested solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, battery storage, and electric heaters with heat storage for households, implemented in partnership with the Government of France, Ulaanbaatar City, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, URECA LLC, and Ger Hub NGO.