Ankara new site of water turbine center

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Turkey spent 800,000 euros to test the water turbines at its Keban Dam. Hürriyet photo

The groundbreaking ceremony for the two megawatt water turbine center in Ankara will take place July 12. The turbine is being built by the Chamber of Commodity Exchanges of Turkey’s Economy and Technology University (TOBB ETÜ).

The center will cost 20 million Turkish Liras to construct and will produce small dam turbines as well as conduct turbine testing, according to daily Zaman. Currently the world’s largest water turbine is 1.6 megawatts.

TOBB is also expected to provide 10 million liras towards the construction and employment of personnel for the turbine center. Turkey’s Development Ministry will also provide 10 million liras towards the project in a three-year period to purchase the necessary machinery and equipment. The Turkish Electromechanics Industry (TEMSAN) also plans to join the project and provide support for the water turbine center especially in the testing phase.

The water turbine is expected to save Turkey $6 billion over five years since Turkey currently outsources the testing of the turbines used in its dams. The new center will ensure that all testing is done in house, according to TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklioğlu.

Turkey spent 800,000 euros back in 2009 to test the water turbines at the Keban Dam, Hisarcıklioğlu said. China and Europe usually conduct tests for Turkey. The test center is expected to be 12 meters in height and seven meters in width. It will house a 650 cubic meter water storage tank.