3 November 2017
Turkish wind power ready to take off
WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson gave a keynote speech at the Turkish Wind Energy Association’s 25th anniversary in Ankara. The event took place after Turkey’s first 1 GW wind tender this summer with a record-breaking $3.48/kWh. Dickson saw the recent result as a testimony for the government’s laudable commitment to clean homegrown energy and investors’ confidence.
Dickson noted, “Turkey’s wind energy sector is looking positive at the moment. You had 1.6 GW of new installations last year, and 1.7 GW offered via auctions already this year. YEKA and the Turkish Renewable Energy Resources Support Mechanism (YEKDEM) models are excellent.” He however pointed to the challenge lower prices pose to competition and a healthy supply chain. Governments have to ensure that prices and the market were balanced. To keep the momentum and attract investors, Turkey should promote transparency in the auction system, bolster the large number of indispensable small companies in the supply chain and simplify permitting and licensing with a one-stop shop.
Turkey has set ambitious goals for its 100th anniversary. By 2023, renewables should provide 30% of its energy, reducing the dependency from foreign supplies. The ambitious plans are shifting the energy landscape and two thirds of the new power installations this year were renewables. Energy Minister Berat Albayrak stressed at the 6th Wind Energy Congress the sector’s role in the country’s growth story. He expects 10 GW of new wind capacity in the next 10 years.
