Wind Energy is a Hometown Issue

• Organized by the Turkish Wind Energy Association (TÜREB) with the motto "Wind Energy, Hometown Issue", the 8. Turkish Wind Energy Congress TÜREK 2019 started with the opening speeches of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Dönmez, the Chairman of the Industry, Trade, Energy, Natural Resources, Information and Technology Commission of the Grand National Assembly Mustafa Elitaş, the President of EMRA Mustafa Yılmaz and the President of TÜREB Hakan Yıldırım.
• In the Congress, which started on Tuesday, November 5 and will continue on November 6; The wind sector, which meets approximately 10 percent of Turkey's energy needs with 3,085 turbines, 180 power plants and 7,600 MW of installed power, is handled by sector representatives in many headings including recent investments, technological developments, R&D and sub-industry.
• At the opening of the Congress, which focused on consultations on the new YEKDEM mechanism to replace the existing YEKDEM that ended on 31 December 2020, the prominent issue was 'the contribution of wind energy to the country's economy and employment'.

The Turkish Wind Energy Congress TÜREK 2019, which was held for the eighth time this year, started on November 5 at the Ankara Sheraton Hotel. The congress focuses on the main headings of the announcement of the new YEKDEM mechanism that will support the development of the wind sector, the new strategic road map in wind and the development of the sub-industry. Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Dönmez, TBMM Industry, Trade, Energy, Natural Resources, Information and Technology Commission Chairman Mustafa Elitaş and EMRA President Mustafa Yılmaz opened the Congress, where different sessions and round table meetings will discuss the current problems, potential and future expectations of the sector for two days.

"We are in fifth place in Europe in the production of electricity from wind"

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Dönmez stated that the electricity generation structure from domestic and renewable energy increased to 64 percent in the 10 months of this year, emphasizing that 46 percent of this figure came from renewable energy. Emphasizing that this situation is no longer going up and down every month, but in a regular course, he said, "We are in fifth place in Europe in the production of electricity from wind. We aim to reduce this rate, which is around 8 percent today, to 10 percent in the first place. Our electricity production from wind increased by 14.6 percent in October compared to the same period of the previous year and by about 70 percent in the last 5-year period," Minister Dönmez said, adding that the wind energy sector already employs 17 thousand people. Minister of Energy Fatih Dönmez said, "The installation of the factory, where the consortium that won the first YEKA competition will use the components produced or supplied according to the domestic goods certified and domestic contribution rates with an annual capacity of 400 megawatts, is about to be completed. Wind turbines will be produced in the factory with a minimum locality rate of 65 percent. With the factory to be established, the center where R&D activities will be carried out for 10 years in the wind industry will be completed and put into operation." Adding that a total of 2 thousand 250 people will be employed in the establishment and operation of the factory and R&D center, Minister Dönmez said, "At least 90 percent of the blue and white collar separately in the establishment and operation of the factory and at least 80 percent in R & D activities will be provided with domestic employment."

"We have reached 8 thousand MW in wind in the last 10 years"

Mustafa Elitaş, Chairman of the Industry, Trade, Energy, Natural Resources, Information and Technology Commission of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, said that the world population will reach 9.2 billion by 2040 and that global energy consumption is predicted to increase by 28 percent until the said period, "Turkey's total capacity on the wind map is 50 thousand megawatts. At the point reached in the last 10 years, our current capacity is about 8 thousand megawatts. This will increase in the coming years." "Investment means energy, Turkey's future," EMRA President Mustafa Yılmaz said, adding that they will receive applications for 2,000 MW of WPP in April next year and that they will continue to provide ease of installation of wind energy facilities in Turkey to all stakeholders in the energy sector.

"We can make a success story in Turkey in the wind"

Pointing out that domestic resources such as wind and solar should be evaluated in order to carry Turkey's renewable energy potential to the next level, TÜREB President Hakan Yıldırım said, "We have erected 3,085 turbines in the entire geography of Turkey, 180 power plants and 7,600 MW of installed power, and we have become able to meet 10 percent of the electricity in Turkey. With all these learned experiences, after seeing 1,500 MW per year, our goal as a sector is to achieve at least 1,000 MW of installed capacity per year and to change the resource diversity in favor of wind on Turkey's electricity generation side. Our goal in 2030 is to reach 25 thousand MW of installed power." Yıldırım continued his words as follows: "With the help of our global collaborations, we can create a success story in Turkey. We have things to do for this. First, the market needs to be predictable for everyone. We need to know how many licenses will be granted in the next 10 years, what type of competitions there will be, the post-2020 support mechanism, purchase guarantees, incentives. In addition, wind energy technology, which is of great benefit to the country's economy, needs to be developed. We must strengthen our cooperation. We imagine that we produce more added value and that we are an indispensable part of the global wind industry with our domestic industrialists. We are ready to work 24/7 for this goal."

TÜREK stakeholders support the revitalization of burning forest areas in Izmir

In order to contribute to the reforestation of the forested areas burned in and around Izmir last summer, TÜREB contributed with its stakeholders to the "Target 1 Million Saplings" campaign initiated and maintained by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry through the Aegean Forest Foundation. During the congress, on behalf of the stakeholders of the Turkish Wind Energy Congress, a representative check showing the donation made to Doctor Selim Kaplan, Advisor to the Scientific Board of the Aegean Forest Foundation, was presented.

YEKA and Financing issues will mark the 2nd day

On November 6, 2019, YEKA applications in the field of wind, capacity allocation models, supply chain in wind, efficiency, equity and financing issues will determine the agenda. The session titles for day 2 will be about the following topics in order:

First YEKA Experiences and Future Capacity Allocation Models

Turkey Supply Chain Overview

Turkey's Wind Academy

Overview of the Post-YEKDEM Period

Wind Equity and Financing Model

Voice of Advisors

Digitalization in Wind Energy System Integration