Increased wind energy is expected to be part of Turkey?s future

Wind power in Turkey should benefit from a 72-point plan announced by the government that is designed to increase the nation’s competitiveness in global markets.

Turkey’s Industry and Commerce Minister Nihat Ergün announced the “Industry Strategy Document and Action Plan”, which includes the establishment of giant ports, logistics bases and railways, at a conference on Wednesday, according to the Anatolia News Agency.

“In an effort to improve energy efficiency, the plan foresees the establishment of methods to utilise the country’s potential in energy resources, including hydroelectricity, wind energy, geothermal energy, solar power and biomass,” the story added. “The government will encourage the use of products that rely on alternative energy resources.”

According to a Bloomberg article published last week, new Turkish legislation guaranteeing prices and incentives for energy from renewable resources may pave the way for $30 billion (€28.9 billion) in wind power investments as the country seeks to meet rising electricity demand.

“As much as $30 billion worth of investment will come in to build 20,000 megawatts of wind power capacity,” Energy Minister Taner Yildiz was quoted as saying in Ankara, compared with the current capacity of about 1,000 megawatts. “We expect this capacity to be built in four to five years.”

A recent Global Wind Energy Council publication noted Turkey’s power consumption is increasing by up to 9% each year and the country is looking to renewable energy as a means of improving its energy security and independence from imports.

Turkey, which has a population of close to 78 million people, is becoming much more aware of its wind power potential, the report said. It added that 343 MW of new wind power was installed in 2009, bringing total wind farm capacity up to 801 MW. An additional 500 MW of wind turbines was expected to be installed in 2010.

 
By Chris Rose, blog.ewea.org