Turkiye ‘ready to be regional centre for wind energy’

2 years ago

CANAKKALE, TURKEY – DECEMBER 17: Employees from Akfen Renewable Energy Group’s, Canakkale Wind Power Plant, do a routine check of equipment on the top of a wind turbine on December 17, 2021 in Canakkale, Turkey. The Canakkale region of Turkey hosts more than 1000 operating wind turbines. In November, Turkey's installed wind power capacity reached 10,585 megawatts making it the second-largest renewable capacity after hydropower. In October, Turkey ratified the Paris Climate Agreement, becoming the last country in the G-20 group to do so and setting an aim for net-zero emissions by 2053 and a focus on new climate initiatives. However, gas and coal continue to be the primary fuel sources in the energy sector, forcing the government to shift towards renewables, such as geothermal, hydropower, wind and solar energy. Over recent years, Turkey has increased installed capacity of renewable sources of energy as it endeavors to cut its near total dependence on imported petroleum products. Oil and gas imports, much of which are used to generate electricity, have become a significant strain on foreign exchange reserves especially as the country deals with a dire economic crisis with the Turkish lira losing more than 40 percent of its value against the U.S dollar this year. However according to Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez, Turkey’s power capacity in renewable energy reached approximately 53,000 megawatts at the end of October, and, on November 11, electricity production from wind power hit a historic daily record, generating 20.1 percent of total power. Turkey’s renewable energy capacity is predicted to grow by 50 percent from 2021 through 2026, according to a recent report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Turkiye’s Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank said on Tuesday that his country is ready to be a wind energy hub for Europe and Central Asia.

Varank’s remarks were made in a speech at the opening of the WindEnergy conference and exhibition in Hamburg, Germany, in which more than forty Turkish companies are taking part.

The minister spoke of Turkey’s potential in the field of wind energy and its production capabilities, in addition to the country being an appropriate investment opportunity and environment.

He noted that during the transition to clean energy, the issue of securing raw materials has become a new challenge for energy security. Varank pointed to China’s global dominance in the solar energy sector and called for the avoidance of new forms of energy dependence as is seen with the oil and gas markets.

The Turkish official explained that his country is taking solid steps to develop its capabilities in the field of solar and wind energy, and added that Turkiye is the fourth largest producer of solar panels in the world and the fifth largest producer of wind energy equipment in Europe. Such equipment is exported to 45 countries with the advantage of Turkiye’s close proximity to global markets.

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