EİB to Bring Renewable Energy Sector Under Its Umbrella

EIB to Bring Renewable Energy Sector Under One Roof Focusing on sustainability-oriented projects over the past five years, Aegean Exporters Associations has accelerated its efforts to unite Turkey's rapidly growing renewable energy sector under a single exporters association umbrella. Civil society organizations in the renewable energy sector are also providing full support to Aegean Exporters Associations' initiative to establish a "Renewable Energy Equipment and Services Exporters Association." The Geothermal Energy Association (JED), which brings together investors in Turkey's geothermal energy sector, has offered full support to the "Renewable Energy Equipment and Services Exporters Association" project currently in preparation within Aegean Exporters Associations (EIB). Ali Kındap, Chairman of the JED Board of Directors, who visited EIB Coordinator Chairman Jak Eskinazi, conveyed that their support for EIB's efforts is complete. [caption id="attachment_146538" align="aligncenter"] From left to right; Serkan Aksüyek, Geothermal Energy Association Board of Directors Chairman Ali Kındap, EIB Coordinator Chairman Jak Eskinazi, Funda Küçükosmanoğlu, Neslihan Seçen[/caption]

Sector exports exceed USD 1 billion

EIB Coordinator Chairman Jak Eskinazi, noting that renewable energy sector exports have reached a volume exceeding USD 1 billion, stated that they expect sector exports to reach USD 2 billion in 2023, and that following requests from renewable energy sector exporters to unite under a single association umbrella, they have launched work to establish a Renewable Energy Equipment and Services Exporters Association. Describing the Geothermal Energy Association (JED)'s support for the establishment of the Renewable Energy Equipment and Services Exporters Association as "highly significant and valuable," Eskinazi continued: "In recent years, major investments have been made in Turkey's renewable energy sector. Installed capacity in the energy sector has reached 102.3 Gigawatts. Renewable energy types—wind, solar, geothermal and biomass—represent 23.6 Gigawatts of this installed capacity. Our new target for the renewable energy sector is to reach 50 Gigawatts of installed capacity. As the sector grows in the domestic market, export volumes will grow proportionally. The Renewable Energy Equipment and Services Exporters Association will accelerate this process."

Application to be made following technical work

Jak Eskinazi, speaking during the reception of the JED delegation, noted that Turkey, which has very high potential in renewable and clean energy, is waiting for the day it gains an exporters association in this field. Eskinazi indicated that work is ongoing to separate Customs Tariff Statistical Position (GTİP) codes from exports from different associations and sectors, and added that once this technical work is completed, they will submit the necessary application to the Ministry of Commerce to begin the legal process for establishing the Association. Geothermal Energy Association (JED) Board of Directors Chairman Ali Kındap, who visited EIB Coordinator Chairman Jak Eskinazi, drew attention to Turkey's increasing renewable energy installed capacity each month, noting that numerous companies engaged in production in the sector's primary and secondary industries are also carrying out large-scale equipment exports.

"We could become world leader in a short time"

Noting that Turkey has increased its installed geothermal capacity one hundredfold over the past decade, Kındap continued his remarks as follows: "Although today's level of 1,686 Megawatts (MW) of installed geothermal capacity represents fourth place in the world, our potential far exceeds this level. With the application of an incentive mechanism supporting the sector's investment climate, it is entirely feasible to increase this installed capacity to 5,000 MW in a very short time and reach a leading position globally. We have resource discoveries ready to support this growth." Recalling that primary and secondary industry companies operating in the geothermal energy sector have reached the level of capability to carry out turnkey power plant installations in Turkey and in every country of the world, Ali Kındap made the following assessment:

Important for strong sector representation

"Consolidating the exports of our companies, which have a say in the entire value chain from drilling through to commissioning, under a single Association umbrella strengthens the entire renewable energy sector. As JED, we were pleased to visit Mr. Eskinazi with the aim of supporting this project underway within Aegean Exporters Associations and to share details regarding our sector."