Solar Energy Capacity Overtakes Wind Energy Capacity

According to Ember's analysis examining hybrid solar energy plant installed capacity, project pipeline and allocated grid capacity in Turkey, solar energy will play an important role in achieving the country's energy targets. As of the end of last year, solar energy emerged as the auxiliary energy source for all 240 hybrid plants in production and planning stages in Turkey. Currently, the total 510 megawatt solar energy capacity in hybrid plants brought Turkey's total solar capacity to 12.2 gigawatts. Solar energy capacity thus surpassed wind energy. While wind energy stands out as the primary source in hybrid plants, 14 wind energy plants account for 63 percent of all hybrid plant capacity in Turkey. Hydroelectric comes second after wind as an auxiliary source with 80 megawatts of solar energy capacity, and this entire capacity is located in Aşağı Kaleköy Hydroelectric Plant, Turkey's only hydroelectric-solar hybrid facility; the remaining 110 megawatt hybrid solar capacity is located in plants with other primary energy sources. According to the report, although Turkey has 80 gigawatts of floating solar energy plant potential, no floating solar energy plant has yet been brought online. The existing grid infrastructure at reservoir plants and the ability to install floating solar energy plants on reservoirs without requiring suitable land stand out as major advantages for these facilities. Since panels installed on water surfaces reduce evaporation, stored water can be used more efficiently for hydroelectric generation, and the water's cooling effect increases panel production efficiency. An energy strategy taking hybrid plants into account is expected to facilitate Turkey's reaching its 53 gigawatt solar energy capacity target by 2035.

Ember Regional Director Ufuk Alparslan commented on the report as follows:

"Therefore, these plants should now be included in official statistics. Additionally, a significant number of state-owned reservoir hydroelectric plants are located in our provinces with high solar energy potential. Even if panels are installed on just 3 percent of Atatürk Dam, a 2 gigawatt floating solar energy plant potential emerges. The world's largest floating solar energy plant could be built in Turkey. In particular, auctions similar to Renewable Energy Resource Areas need to be organized to enable large-scale floating solar plants to be built at state-owned reservoir hydroelectric plants." Source