From Solar Panels to Plastic Recycling: Technologies for a Sustainable Future Discussed at ENU

The L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University hosted the IX International Conference on Renewable Energy and Environmental Engineering (REEE 2026). The event brought together academic community members, industry representatives, and international experts in ecology, engineering, and IT from Asia, Europe, and North America.

The conference served as a platform for presenting innovative solutions to environmental issues – including those utilizing artificial intelligence. Participants generated new ideas, established concrete international cooperation agreements in renewable energy and environmental engineering, shared scientific experience, and formed new international research projects.

In his welcoming speech, Eldar Kopishev, Head of the Chemistry Department, ENU’s Institute of Natural Sciences, emphasized the importance of this timely conference:

"There are perhaps no issues more pressing than those we will discuss over the coming days: How do we power our societies without depleting the planet's resources? How do we turn waste into a valuable resource, and transform a linear consumption model into a true circular economy? During the conference, these questions will be addressed within three thematic tracks: the application of artificial intelligence in sustainable energy systems, environmental management and ecosystem conservation, as well as resource recovery and sustainable management of natural resources. All these topics are united by a common conviction: science must serve not only progress, but also our planet," the scientist emphasized.

The uniqueness of the event lies in the fact that it brought together representatives of academic science, education, and the real sector of the economy at one table.

Asem Omari, a scientist from the Higher Colleges of Technology in the United Arab Emirates, spoke in his report about a study aimed at forecasting wind speed for the efficient management of renewable energy sources.

"The outcome of our work will enable better decision-making in agriculture, as well as the optimization of existing systems. For instance, we can optimize the operation of wind turbines, improve current energy systems, and support agricultural planning. All of this impacts the country's economy and many other sectors where such knowledge plays a vital role," the foreign researcher explained.

During the conference, innovations were presented on machine learning for monitoring renewable energy sources, the application of digital twins in oil refining, plastic waste recycling, green hydrogen production, and the extraction of rare earth and platinum metals from secondary raw materials.

Maziar Rastmanesh, an Assistant Professor at Pennsylvania State University, presented research findings dedicated to improving the efficiency of solar energy. The scientist studies the impact of load changes and weather conditions on the performance of solar panels and develops solutions that maintain stable electricity generation even at low levels of solar radiation. According to him, such technologies are essential for enhancing energy security and accelerating the transition to clean energy sources.

Dr. Maxim Kiryukhin, representing Accelerated Materials Pte Ltd from Singapore, presented a technology that uses artificial intelligence to automatically select optimal conditions for obtaining vaterite – a promising material for medicine, the food industry, and consumer goods manufacturing. The developed method allows for faster and more efficient production of this material on an industrial scale.

Gaini Seitenova, a researcher at the Laboratory of Petrochemistry and Polymer Materials of The L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University and Executive Director of the Association of Petrochemical Producers and Consumers of the Republic of Kazakhstan, raised the issue of plastic waste management in Kazakhstan in her report.

According to Gaini Seitenova, Professor of Chemical Engineering, the country's waste recycling infrastructure remains underdeveloped, and the share of plastic in the total volume of recycled materials is still small.

The author noted that Kazakhstan's unique position as both an emerging polymer producer and a state forming a modern waste management system creates an opportunity to integrate circular economy principles directly into the process of industrial growth.

The author noted that Kazakhstan's unique position as both a developing polymer producer and a state forming a modern waste management system creates the opportunity to integrate the principles of a cyclical economy directly into the process of industrial growth.

The speaker noted that the sustainable development of the petrochemical sector will require parallel investments in waste recycling, innovative technologies and international cooperation, which will ensure long-term environmental and economic benefits.

The conference was held in three sections dedicated to artificial intelligence-based solutions for sustainable energy systems and circular economy; environmental factors in energy systems and sustainable environmental management, as well as resource restoration and sustainable resource management.