‘Wind power to reach 100,000 MW by 2053’

ISTANBUL

Wind power should be declared a strategic sector in Türkiye, with a target of reaching 100,000 megawatts of installed renewable energy capacity for 2053, says the head of the Wind Energy Association.

With the investments made in the last 15 years, Türkiye has reached an installed capacity of approximately 12,000 megawatts in wind power and has reached a position to meet 11 percent of its total annual electricity generation from wind.

In addition, there are approximately 8,500 megawatts of wind projects in the development and construction process with capacity allocation and 20,000 megawatts of wind projects with storage, which have recently reached the evaluation and pre-licensing stage.

With the “Türkiye Wind Power and Wind Industry Policy Document,” the Wind Energy Association (TÜREB) shared its views and suggestions on wind power and energy management for the government that will take office as a result of the May 14 elections.

Speaking at the press conference on the subject, TÜREB head İbrahim Erden said that “the wind sector should be declared as a strategic sector.”

Erden stated that necessary arrangements should be made to ensure that the country’s onshore and offshore wind potential of over 150,000 megawatts, together with new production technologies, is utilized at the highest possible level.

According to Erden, the installed capacity target in wind power should be 40,000 megawatts by 2035 and 100,000 by 2053.

Speaking about the increase in turbine costs, Arif Günyar, the CEO of Enercon Central Asia, Middle East and Africa Region, said that all turbine manufacturers saw unprecedented hikes in costs due to the war between Ukraine and Russia and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In the following period, we see a conjuncture where turbine manufacturers will exist in the markets they know and deem safe,” Günyar said.