Turkey Installs Floating Solar Power Plant, Eyes Expanding Renewable Energy Capacity

In a significant stride towards bolstering its renewable energy portfolio, Turkey has completed the installation of its maiden Floating Solar Power Plant on the surface of the Keban Dam reservoir. The initiative promises not only clean energy production but also substantial water conservation.

The Floating Solar Power Plant, with an installed capacity of approximately 1 MW, marks Turkey’s foray into harnessing solar energy on water bodies. By covering reservoirs with photovoltaic panels, these plants not only generate electricity but also mitigate water loss due to evaporation.

The project, named the Kuzova Floating Solar Power Plant R&D Project, stands out for its innovative approach. It incorporates renewable energy generation into agricultural production, specifically in the Kuzova Pumped Irrigation system, benefiting seven villages and irrigating a total of 4,783 hectares of land sourced from the Keban Dam Lake.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, İbrahim Yumaklı, highlighted the significance of the project, stating that the Kuzova Floating Solar Power Plant will produce 1.8 million kilowatt-hours of electrical energy annually, equivalent to a saving of 5.6 million TL.

Moreover, to further enhance energy efficiency and reduce costs, Turkey has also completed the installation of a Terrestrial Solar Power Plant with an installed capacity of 2 MW to serve the Kuzova Pumped Irrigation area. This dual approach is expected to meet half of the irrigation system’s energy needs and reduce farmers’ expenses by 40%.

Turkey’s ambition in renewable energy extends beyond this initial endeavor. With vast dam reservoirs covering 5,300 square kilometers, the country envisions significant potential for Floating Solar Power Plants. If utilized to just 10% of its capacity, it is estimated that these plants could generate 79.5 billion kilowatt-hours annually, meeting a substantial portion of the nation’s energy demand while conserving water resources.

As Turkey advances its renewable energy agenda, the deployment of Floating Solar Power Plants emerges as a promising strategy, combining sustainable energy generation with environmental conservation on a significant scale.