Experience for the Environment: How Turkmen Scientists Are Implementing Cutting-Edge Water Purification Methods

Specialists from the Renewable Energy Research and Production Center of the State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan completed a productive working trip to the Republic of Uzbekistan. From June 8 to 14, 2026, they visited Tashkent and the Republic of Karakalpakstan. The main goal of the visit was to strengthen scientific and technical cooperation in the field of sustainable water resource management. Of particular interest to the delegation was the study of cutting-edge drainage water purification methods using microalgae and renewable energy sources.

The visit began in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, where the Turkmen specialists held meetings at the Research Institute of Irrigation and Water Problems. To gain a detailed understanding of the technologies, the scientists visited facilities near the Main Southern Collector. Here, they examined the operation of mobile pumping stations and natural bioplateau systems using specific examples. It turned out that ordinary reeds and cattails effectively purify drainage water before it is used for irrigation. The water pumps themselves are powered by solar energy. This not only reduces electricity costs but also ensures a reliable water supply in remote rural areas.

The logical continuation of the trip was the study of innovative biological treatment methods. To this end, the delegation visited facilities at the Karakalpak branch of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, where microalgae are produced, and also met with specialists from the Academy of Young Scientists. During the professional dialogue, the parties discussed technologies for growing microalgae on an industrial scale. The colleagues also considered the potential for their application in related fields: bioenergy, animal husbandry, food supplement production, and environmental protection.

All the experience gained and valuable scientific data will find practical application in Uzbekistan. They will form the basis of a model pilot project, "Complex of Solar and Wind Power Plants for Purifying Collector and Drainage Water Using Microalgae”. This complex will be deployed at the test site of the specialized scientific and production center of the State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan.