Key Takeaways
- Shanghai AIKO Solar Energy Company Limited and Kazakhstan's Atyrau Oil and Gas University (Utebayev University) signed a memorandum of understanding at Intersolar Europe 2026 in Munich, Germany.
- The two institutions will jointly develop the AIKO-AOGU Zero-Carbon Smart Agriculture Demonstration Park on the university's new campus in Atyrau, western Kazakhstan.
- The park will combine solar energy, artificial intelligence, water-saving technologies, and automated farming systems designed for arid, water-scarce conditions.
- Phase one includes solar greenhouses, demonstration farming plots, smart irrigation and fertigation systems, solar power stations with energy storage, and a joint AIKO-AOGU exhibition and research center.
- University rector Gulzada Shakulikova said the project will also allow students and researchers to work with technologies such as digital twins, green hydrogen, and advanced environmental solutions.
AIKO Solar and Utebayev University Sign MOU at Intersolar Europe 2026
Chinese solar technology company Shanghai AIKO Solar Energy Company Limited and Kazakhstan's Atyrau Oil and Gas University named after Safi Utebayev (Utebayev University / AOGU) have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop a zero-carbon smart agriculture demonstration park in Atyrau, Kazakhstan. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of Intersolar Europe 2026 in Munich, Germany — one of the world's largest solar energy trade events.
The partnership covers collaboration across renewable energy, artificial intelligence, agriculture, and advanced technology transfer between China and Kazakhstan.
What the AIKO-AOGU Zero-Carbon Smart Agriculture Demonstration Park Will Include
Planned for the university's new campus, the AIKO-AOGU Zero-Carbon Smart Agriculture Demonstration Park is designed as a shared scientific, educational, and technology platform. Its primary focus is on showcasing modern farming approaches suited to the dry climate and limited water availability that characterize the Atyrau region in western Kazakhstan.
The facility will bring together solutions from three intersecting areas: alternative energy, digital technology, and innovative agriculture. Key components planned for the park include solar greenhouses and demonstration farming plots, smart irrigation and fertigation systems, water reuse infrastructure, solar power stations with integrated energy storage, and digital management and monitoring platforms. A joint AIKO-AOGU exhibition, educational, and research center is also part of the plan. The project team is also exploring aquaculture as an additional sustainable production stream.
Solar Energy and AI at the Core
Solar power generation and AI-driven farm management will sit at the center of the park's operating model. Digital resource management systems and automated agricultural equipment are expected to reduce the water and energy demands of farming in the region. The project will also give researchers and students hands-on access to emerging technologies including digital twins, green hydrogen systems, and advanced environmental solutions.
Utebayev University Rector on the Project's Strategic Goals
“The project is aimed at solving several important strategic tasks,” said Gulzada Shakulikova, Rector of Atyrau Oil and Gas University named after Safi Utebayev. “In the first phase, solar greenhouses and demonstration agricultural plots are planned. Smart irrigation and fertigation systems, water reuse infrastructure, solar power plants and energy storage systems, digital management and monitoring platforms will also be implemented. In addition, a joint AIKO-AOGU exhibition, educational and research center will be established.”
Shakulikova added that the initiative will open new opportunities for the university's scientists and students, enabling them to take part in international-level research and gain practical experience with cutting-edge tools.
Part of a Broader Push Toward Green Technology in Central Asia
Utebayev University described the agreement as consistent with its broader strategic direction — advancing green technologies, accelerating digital transformation, and positioning Atyrau as a leading innovation center in Central Asia for new energy and sustainable development. For AIKO Solar, the deal extends its footprint into Kazakhstan's growing renewable energy and smart agriculture market.
