Renewable Energy and Sustainability Summit Held

Renewable Energy and Sustainability Summit Held To draw attention to the importance of renewable energy sources and the potential of the Aegean Region, Aegean Exporters Associations organized the "Renewable Energy and Sustainability Summit" on 15 June World Wind Day in cooperation with Posta Newspaper. At the summit, Aegean Exporters Associations Coordinator Chairman Jak Eskinazi, Energy and Natural Resources Ministry General Director of Energy Affairs Dr. Ömer Erdem, and Grand National Assembly Industry, Trade, Energy, Natural Resources, Information and Technology Commission Chairman Ziya Altunyaldız delivered opening remarks. In the first session where the importance of wind and solar energy in sustainable development was discussed, ENSİA Chairman Alper Kalaycı, GENSED Chairman Halil Demirdağ, TPI Composite EMEA CFO Özgür Soysal and GENSED Vice Chairman Tolga Murat Özdemir took the floor, while energy sources and renewable energy were discussed in the second session featuring Biyogazder Chairman Altan Denizsel, Teksis Advanced Technologies General Manager Hüseyin Devrim and JESDER Chairman Ufuk Şentürk. Reminding of the carbon border tax that will come into effect with the European Green Deal, Aegean Exporters Associations Coordinator Chairman Jak Eskinazi underlined that exports and competitive strength in many sectors, particularly iron-steel, chemicals, automotive and textiles, would be affected. "Studies show that the possible annual cost of this process to us could reach USD 1.8 billion. We need to prepare our companies for this process which we call green transition. Our companies that do not make progress in this area will unfortunately struggle even to find financing in the coming period. One of the most important issues in the green transition process is renewable energy sources. 55 percent of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide originate from energy production and distribution."

Renewable and clean energy sources account for 22 percent

Eskinazi said, "Increasing the use of renewable energy sources, ensuring reliable and low-cost energy in a growing economy in an environmentally sustainable manner forms our country's priority energy policy. Within Turkey's installed electricity capacity of 100,334 megawatts, the share of Wind, Solar, Biomass and Geothermal energy, recognized as 'renewable and clean energy sources,' has reached 22 percent. We reached this level through investments we made over the past 15 years. Truly a success story." Renewable energy equipment exports exceeded USD 500 million annually

Emphasizing the advantages provided by İzmir's high potential in wind, geothermal, biomass and solar energy, as well as its geographic location, Jak Eskinazi continued: "İzmir is the renewable energy center, or in other words, its capital. We expect and wish that renewable energy technologies in İzmir will have an important share in the energy market's future. Our sector, which is developing extremely rapidly and holds significant potential in our region, and as Aegean Exporters Associations, we also want to contribute. Field research shows that Turkey's renewable energy equipment exports have exceeded USD 500 million annually." Turkey's First Renewable Energy Equipment and Services Exporters Association Eskinazi summarized the sector representatives' objective as bringing together renewable energy equipment exporters currently scattered under one roof and enabling them to combine their strengths. "We share the same view as our sector representatives. Within this framework, we have begun work towards establishing Turkey's First Renewable Energy Equipment and Services Exporters Association. We need to conduct detailed work in the coming period. Because there is no customs tariff for renewable energy. For example, a motor component used in a wind turbine is not considered a renewable energy equipment, meaning there is no tariff to separate it." We expect the support of our Energy and Natural Resources Ministry, Trade Ministry and Grand National Assembly Energy Commission Jak Eskinazi said, "For this reason, a new Harmonized System classification code needs to be defined. I firmly believe that we can create synergy in cooperation with NGOs in the sector, our companies and other stakeholders. The Renewable Energy Equipment Exporters Association will be very fitting for İzmir, which has become a center for renewable energy and equipment production. In our work on this matter, we expect the support of our Energy and Natural Resources Ministry, Trade Ministry and the Grand National Assembly Energy Commission." With YEKA auctions, we will reach a portfolio exceeding 7,000 MW in total Energy and Natural Resources Ministry General Director of Energy Affairs Dr. Ömer Erdem emphasized the importance of the Aegean Exporters Associations' Sustainability Manifesto, stating they are working to implement provisions related to energy efficiency. "Within the National Energy and Mining Policy framework, the Renewable Energy Resource Areas (YEKA) model, which has made important contributions to achieving technology transfer, domestic production and installed capacity targets in renewable energy, has conducted tenders totaling 5,150 MW comprising 2,850 MW wind and 2,300 MW solar energy since 2017. With new YEKA auctions planned for the near term, we will reach a portfolio exceeding 7,000 MW in total." USD 5 billion investment is being implemented Erdem stated, "Thanks to the additional 2,787 MW capacity allocated for renewable sources by EPDK in recent months, approximately USD 5 billion in investments will be implemented over the next 1.5-2 years, providing significant contribution to the national economy and employment. All investments currently being made are in renewable energy." We rank 12th globally and 5th in Europe in renewable energy installed capacity Ömer Erdem shared information that approximately 75 percent of the electricity installed capacity commissioned from the beginning of 2017 when the National Energy and Mining Policy was announced until the end of April 2022 consisted of renewable energy sources. "From the beginning of 2020 to the end of April 2022, 95 percent of the electricity installed capacity commissioned consisted of renewable energy sources. As of the end of 2021, our country ranks 12th globally in total renewable energy installed capacity and 5th in Europe. We are taking necessary measures in the energy field for applications such as carbon border tax that will come on the agenda in the coming period. Through the Renewable Energy Source Guarantee (YEK-G) System, which provides consumers with the opportunity to document that they use energy produced from renewable energy sources, and the Organized YEK-G Market where this system will be operated, were put into operation last year." Turkey's National Energy Plan study will be published within several months Erdem said that industrialists have been permitted to construct solar and wind plants without licenses up to twice their electricity connection capacity to support them in zeroing their carbon footprints and reducing their costs. "I would like to mention a study our ministry plans to publish this year. Through amendments to the Electricity Market Law and Natural Gas Market Law, our ministry was tasked with preparing and publishing a long-term Turkey National Energy Plan study. The plan being prepared in line with 2053 targets is expected to be published within several months, and long-term energy supply-demand scenarios are being prepared within the scope of the study. Following the preparation of long-term scenarios, the steps that need to be taken for our country to reach its energy objectives will be determined. I would like to state that as a ministry, we are providing and will continue to provide all support to our sector and industrialists regarding the continuation of renewable energy investments in a sustainable manner." With localization rates reaching 70 percent, we have reached the point of producing components and parts Grand National Assembly Industry, Trade, Energy, Natural Resources, Information and Technology Commission Chairman Ziya Altunyaldız said, "The highest emissions occurred in 2021. There is a need for a mechanism and systematic approach to fulfill commitments. For this reason, we proposed to the EU Commission that there should be internationally binding agreements. 300 gigawatts of installed capacity and billions of dollars in investment are needed to bring emission levels down to zero. We achieved 11,000 megawatts in onshore wind energy and 8,000 megawatts in solar energy. We know our potential is 10 times this." Altunyaldız noted that he visited wind energy equipment production facilities in İzmir last week and was very impressed by the current technology and capacity. "With localization rates reaching 70 percent, we have reached the point of producing components and parts. We are meeting both domestic and export demand. We will create more production areas, provide support for renewable energy installation, and strengthen investments. It was very important that we include supports within the scope of the fourth region. We want to be the attractive force of this transformation." We will reach the 2030 target in 2023 Drawing attention to Turkey's 2030 nationally determined contribution under COP26, ENSİA Chairman Alper Kalaycı noted that the wind energy installed capacity target is 16,000 megawatts and the solar energy installed capacity target is 10,000 megawatts. "Currently we are at 8,400-500 megawatts in solar energy. Thus we will reach the 2030 target in 2023. We will reach the 16,000 megawatt target in wind energy in 2026. Countries need to set more ambitious targets. Our industrialists, product manufacturers and component-producing companies have significant potential. Our infrastructure is very good. In electricity-consuming industry, our companies show serious appetite for revising themselves for renewable energy. We need to accelerate." Turkish companies will become important players in solar energy globally GENSED Chairman Halil Demirdağ said, "Solar energy industrialists have a great opportunity in renewable energy. Turkey accounts for 1 percent of the world in green energy, sun and wind. We can go far beyond our 1 percent share in the world, green hydrogen is a miracle for us. In the coming years, Turkish companies will become an important player globally in solar energy. For us to be a strong player in production, an industry related to this needs to be created. Solar is the world's cheapest energy source, wind is the second cheapest source. Carbon tax will begin to be paid on 1 January 2023. Renewable energy should be supported regardless of its cost." There will be very rapid growth in renewable energy TPI Composite EMEA CFO Özgür Soysal said, "Renewable energy is a sector that will solve all of Turkey's problems. There is significant increasing demand in Europe. Demand is expected to increase from 15 gigawatts to 30 gigawatts. There will be very rapid growth in renewable energy. Turkey is the location closest to Europe, we have geographic location advantage and logistical advantage. We are in very good shape in terms of know-how. If we keep the installation at a certain level, we need scale. We need to identify what incentives companies need. We need a port where this work will be done, a stable market and installation. The renewable energy sector is a great opportunity for young people; let them learn about the sector and invest."