Domestic and renewables add 445 MW in Turkey in Q1

By Nuran Erkul Kaya

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey added 445 megawatts of installed electricity production capacity from 100% domestic and renewable energy resources in the first quarter 2019, according to data of Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Ministry.

Turkey, in an effort to economically maximize the use of domestic and renewable energy resources, is gradually increasing its power generation capacity from these resources.

The country targets the creation of 10,000 megawatts each of solar and wind energy capacity in the coming 10 years. However, the government does not plan to give a green light to any new power plant from imported resources including imported coal or natural gas.

In this regard, the entire newly installed electricity generation capacity for the period January-March this year was generated from domestic and renewable energy resources.

For this January to March period, local coal held the biggest share of this new capacity at 57.3% creating 255 megawatts, and hydro electricity power plants followed with a 22.5% share generating 100 megawatts of additional capacity.

Wind created 70 megawatts of installed capacity and 20 megawatts was derived from geothermal, biomass and waste resources.

A 255-megawatt coal power plant and a 20-megawatt geothermal power plant began electricity production in Manisa in the Aegean province while the biggest hydro electricity power plant with 33 megawatts became operational in Tokat, a Central Anatolian province.

The wind plant, with the highest capacity of 26 megawatts, began electricity production in the Canakkale province in the Marmara region.

Consequently, Turkey's current installed capacity as at the end of March stood at 89,000 megawatts.

Hydro electricity created around 32% of total electricity production followed by natural gas plants with a 25.3% share.

Local and imported coal plants had a 12% and 10% share, respectively of the total energy mix. Wind plants occupied around 8% and solar registered a 6% share in the total portfolio.

The remaining capacity came from geothermal, biomass and other sources.