SPECIALISED EXPO

Category
International Recognised exhibition
Dates
10/06/2017 - 10/09/2017
Theme
Future Energy
Area (ha)
25
Visitors
3,977,545
Participants (Official)
137
Website
expo2017astana.com/en/

3 months dedicated to Future Energy

The Expo, which lasted 93 days, was one of the most spectacular cultural venues of
2017. Expo 2017 Astana included over 3,000 themed, cultural and entertainment
events. 115 countries and 22 international organisations participated in the Expo.
The site of the Expo was conceived with the theme at its heart, giving all visitors the
opportunity to discover “Future Energy” both inside and outside the pavilions. The Expo
showcased the theme through interactive and educational exhibits in thematic and
international pavilions, and by fostering intellectual debate and creativity through the
Future Energy Forum.
Theme
A place of exchange and cooperation
Lasting from 29 June to 5 September, the Future Energy Forum was one of the main
features of the Expo, hosting debates, workshops, panels and thematic weeks
throughout its duration. Three Future Energy conferences based on the three
subthemes were organised in the years leading up to the Expo, in order to prepare the
ground for the main event.

Aimed at stimulating international cooperation, the Future Energy Forum gathered top-
level scientists, political representatives and energy experts from across the world to
discuss the following themes:
- Energy Revolution
- Low-carbon technologies
- Renewable technology solutions
- Social economics of a new energy model
- Universal Access to Sustainable Energy
- Energy efficiency in the city: urban planning, construction and transport.
The conclusions of the Future Energy Forum provided the basis for the Manifest of
Values and Principles, a document that codifies the Expo’s intellectual legacy and
serves as a global policy document including directives and recommendations to
promote an energy-efficient lifestyle and the wide use of renewable energy.

Future Energy
"Future Energy" addressed global energy-related challenges having a direct impact on
the basic aspects of life on the planet. These challenges include the following:
• Global warming and climate change;
• Fair opportunities for economic development for all nations;
• Energy security and allocation of resources;
• Access to water;
• Protection of biodiversity, and
• Promotion of world equity.
The theme covered a wide range of issues relating to the future of energy resources
and tapped into the global interest in both combating climate change and ensuring
sustainable development.

To tackle this issue, Expo 2017 Astana identified three subthemes that present an
overview of the state of energy in 2017, in order showcase sustainable solutions and
technological innovations:
• Reducing CO2 emissions.
The environmental challenge: to protect our environment and promote trends that lead
to environmental enhancement.
• Efficient energy use.
The economic challenge: to promote energy efficiency and the rational use of energy.
• Energy for all.
The social challenge: access to energy as a basic human need and right.
A unique setting to address “Future Energy”
Expo 2017 Astana spanned an area of 174 ha, with the exhibition space taking up 25
ha. The Expo site included the National Pavilion of Kazakhstan, the Museum of Future
Energy, the Energy Best Practices Area, international, themed and corporate pavilions,
as well as trade and entertainment facilities. The non-exhibition area featured a
conference centre, a press centre, residential buildings and hotels.
The Sphere
Nur Alem - an eight-storey sphere with a diameter of 80 metres - was built as the heart
of the Expo site. The structure is powered by a photovoltaic system and two noiseless
wind turbines, and its design ensures reduced power consumption from the grid.
The National Pavilion of Kazakhstan, located in a 5,000 m2 area at the base of the
Sphere, was divided into two zones: “Insight into Kazakhstan” and “Creative Energy”.
The upper floors house the Museum of Future Energy, which lets visitors discover the
different sources of energy, and includes “Future Astana” – a visionary exhibit of a city
of the future.
The Theme Pavilions
Two dedicated theme pavilions explored the “Future Energy” theme through interactive
and educational exhibits. The first began with the origins of energy and moved through
to renewable energy and the latest technological innovations, including smart grids and
smart cities. The second thematic pavilion showcased the human relationship with
energy, with a focus on different forms of energy consumption and environmental
challenges.
The Energy Best Practices Area
The Energy Best Practices Area (eBPa) was one of the central events of Expo 2017
Astana, in which selected technologies, projects and policies from various areas of
sustainable energy management were be presented to the public. The area showcased
over 20 innovative projects selected by a panel of experts.

The projects were selected based on their relevance and innovation concerning the
following themes:
- Renewable and alternative energy
- Energy efficiency and traditional energy
- Energy storage
- Energy distribution
- Using the energy of natural resources
Energy Efficiency built into the Masterplan
From its conception, the Masterplan of Expo 2017 Astana embodied “Future Energy”,
with the design of the site adapted to local conditions in order to reduce energy use and
maximise energy generation potential. Developed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill
Architecture, each building was designed to have the most efficient orientation to
optimise solar radiation, reducing the need for heating.
Legacy
Located near Nazarbayev University, the site will allow the creation of a hub for
research and innovative thinking. Expo buildings will be transformed to fit this ambition,
as a new economic centre of the city.
The Site itself will be divided into a science and technology park, a cultural complex,
residential and commercial areas and 40 ha of green and leisure space.

This transformation of the Expo site will boost the development of the district, with new
commercial and residential areas to be developed to the North West and East of the
Expo site, and the creation of research projects with Nazarbayev University.