Wind
power in Turkey should benefit from a 72-point plan announced by the government
that is designed to increase the nation’s competitiveness in global
markets.
Turkey’s Industry and Commerce Minister Nihat Ergün announced the
“Industry Strategy Document and Action Plan”, which includes the establishment
of giant ports, logistics bases and railways, at a conference on Wednesday,
according to the Anatolia News Agency.
“In
an effort to improve energy efficiency, the plan foresees the establishment of
methods to utilise the country’s potential in energy resources, including
hydroelectricity, wind, geothermal, solar and biomass,” thestoryadded. “The
government will encourage the use of products that rely on alternative energy
resources.”
According to a Bloombergarticlepublished last week, new Turkish
legislation guaranteeing prices and incentives for energy from renewable
resources may pave the way for $30 billion (€28.9 billion) in wind power
investments as the country seeks to meet rising electricity
demand.
“As
much as $30 billion worth of investment will come in to build 20,000 megawatts
of wind power capacity,” Energy Minister Taner Yildiz was quoted as saying in
Ankara, compared with the current capacity of about 1,000 megawatts. “We expect
this capacity to be built in four to five years.”
A
recent Global Wind Energy Council publication noted Turkey’s power consumption
is increasing by up to 9% each year and the country is looking to renewable
energy as a means of improving its energy security and independence from
imports.
Turkey, which has a population of close to 78 million people, is
becoming much more aware of its wind power potential, the report said. It added
that 343 MW of new wind power was installed in 2009, bringing total capacity up
to 801 MW. An additional 500 MW was expected to be installed in
2010.