Türkiye’s Solar Surpasses Wind With Hybrid Power: 510 MW Installed, Paving The Way For Clean Energy Targets – Report

Türkiye’s hybrid solar power plants, a pivotal force in the nation’s clean energy transition, have demonstrated significant prowess at the close of 2023. The analysis from Ember Climate unveils the intricacies of installed capacity, project pipelines, and the underreported phenomenon of hybrid solar installations.

Hybrid power plants, empowered by a regulatory shift in 2020, now stand as a crucial element in Türkiye’s solar landscape. With solar as the secondary source in all of the 240 operational and planned hybrid power plants, the synergy of multiple sources connected to the grid at the same location is unlocking Türkiye’s solar potential.

Official statistics, however, fall short of capturing the full solar capacity story. Türkiye’s solar capacity, officially reported at 11.7 GW, eclipses wind’s 11.8 GW when considering an additional 510 MW of secondary solar capacity in hybrid power plants. This revelation underscores the need for accurate data representation in capacity planning.

Wind power installations dominate the hybrid landscape, constituting 63% of the secondary solar capacity. This strategic alignment leverages the complementary nature of wind and solar generation patterns, ensuring a more stable output in hybrid power plants.

Despite hybrid power plants existing in 28 provinces, concentration is notable in specific regions. Uşak, Bingöl, and Sivas lead with the highest hybrid solar capacity, collectively contributing 42% of the total installed capacity. Konya and Karaman, harnessing both wind and solar potential, further bolster Türkiye’s hybrid solar capacity.

The estimated annual generation from hybrid power plants stands at 798 GWh, equivalent to 4.2% of Türkiye’s total solar energy production in 2023. However, challenges arise in data amalgamation, raising concerns as hybrid solar generation approaches terawatt-hour output.

Looking ahead, Türkiye’s hybrid solar revolution continues, with 1.9 GW of approved capacity yet to be installed by the end of 2023. This represents a substantial project stock, equivalent to 16% of all installed solar capacity, with wind and hydroelectric power plants accounting for 62% and 13%, respectively.

Floating solar, an untapped potential in Türkiye’s energy landscape, holds promise for further innovation. While Türkiye possesses 80 GW of floating solar potential, the focus remains on ground-mounted solar panels in hybrid plants. A bill introduced in January paves the way for floating solar installations on dammed hydro reservoirs, signalling a new era in Türkiye’s solar evolution.

The regulatory amendments in October 2023 mark a positive stride, demanding transparency in solar and wind capacity projections at the regional level from April 2024. This signifies a crucial shift towards holistic energy planning, aligning Türkiye with its ambitious goal of achieving 53 GW of solar capacity by 2035.

In conclusion, Türkiye’s hybrid solar revolution is rewriting the narrative of solar energy, unlocking hidden potential and reshaping the nation’s energy landscape.