TURKEY BUILDING WIND

Turkey imports more than 90% of its energy. Think rising oil prices are driving them to New Energy?

Tracing Turkey’s increasing interest in New Energy is like following a map of current energy tensions. Turkey gets the bulk of its natural gas from Iran or from Russia via the South Stream pipeline. When Turkmenistan cut gas supplies to Iran for pipeline repairs, Iran cut its exports to Turkey 75%, proclaimed Turkmenistan’s action was not about pipelines but about price increases and cut the rest of Turkey’s supply.

At that point Turkey cut off its sales of gas to Greece, complicating the situation.

When Turkey asked Russia to send more gas, Russia refused and cut exports. Turkey was forced to tap the reserves it maintains in its only gas storage facility.

Last year, Turkey increased its wind energy capacity 736%. No, that’s not a typo. Seven hundred and thirty six percent. Hundreds of megawatts are being built or are in line for supply and construction. And 8000 megawatts of capacity await Ankara’s approval.

What geopolitical impact will there be when Turkey frees itself from energy dependence on Iran and Russia?

Minor aside: Greece has been extremely resistant to installing wind capacity. As soon as Turkey has excess wind capacity, it will be able to build transmission and sell Greece electricity instead of gas.

Turkey has great wind energy resources. (click to enlarge)

Analysis: Turkey embraces wind power
John C.K. Daly, February 1, 2008 (UPI)

WHO
The government of Turkey, Turkish Grand National Assembly, Turkish national pipeline company Botas, Tanay Sidki Uyar (Marmara University Energy Department Associate Professor/World Wind Energy Association Vice President),

WHAT
To beat the high price and geopolitical vagaries of imported oil and natural gas, Turkey is building wind energy and other New Energies.

Pipelines mean dependency. (click to enlarge)

WHEN
- 2006: Turkey spent $29 billion on energy imports.
- Turkey suffered cut-offs of gas supply from Iran in 2005 and 2006.
- 2005: the Turkish Grand National Assembly matched EU energy and efficiency measures.
- 2006: Turkey had 19 megawatts of wind capacity.
- 2007: Turkey had 10 wind farms generating 140 megawatts.

WHERE
- Turkey’s $29 billion has been flowing to Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Russia.
- Turkey has one gas storage facility, in Silivri.
- Turkey’s capital is Ankara.

WHY
- GE signed a contract with Ankara in July 2007 for 52 2.5 megawatt turbines to open up Turkey’s southeastern region. (See GE:BIGGEST WIND IN TURKEY) Previous developments have been in the west and on the Aegean coast. The 130 megawatts doubles Turkey’s capacity.
- Turkey’s Rotor Energy Co. (subsidiary of Zorlu Energy), in partnership with Ecosecurities, will build a 135 megawatt facility in the southern province of Osmaniye that will come online in 2009.
- 40 more licenses for 20 to 60 megawatt wind installations are approved. Applications for 8000 more megawatts await Ankara’s scrutiny.

Forget natural gas: Look at those solar resources! Why isn't somebody developing solar thermal power plants? (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
Tanay Sidki Uyar, University Energy Professor and World Wind Energy Association VP: "Wind power could supply Turkey's electricity needs twice over within five to 10 years if the government had the political will to develop this sector…We have terrific geographic conditions for solar and wind power in Turkey. Exploiting it is already economically and technically possible, but the problem is that the government favors fossil fuels and nuclear energy."