Fatih Dönmez, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources: “We have become one of the world’s leading producers of both wind and sun, but we are not content with these. We aim to be in the top three in the world in solar panel production next year with new investments.”
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Dönmez stated that Turkey is the first in Europe and the fourth in the world in solar panel production, and that their goal is to enter the top three in the world.
In the statement made by the Ministry, it was reported that the installed power of Turkey, which was 31 thousand 846 MW in electricity in 2002, exceeded 100 thousand MW as of the end of March this year. In the statement, it was stated that the share of renewable energy in electricity, which was 38 percent in 2002, increased to 54 percent, especially with the renewable energy investments made in recent years.
In the statement, it was emphasized that the most remarkable increase in these investments was experienced in solar energy, and that Turkey’s installed solar power, which was 40 megawatts in 2014, increased 200 times in 8 years and exceeded 8 thousand MW, and the increase in installed power also brought R&D and technology investments. was said to have been brought.
Leader in panel production in Europe
According to the data of the Ministry, there is an annual panel production capacity of 185 thousand MW worldwide. China ranks first in the world with a production capacity of 124 thousand MW. China is followed by Vietnam with 14 thousand megawatts and South Korea with 9 thousand 200 MW. Turkey, on the other hand, ranks fourth in the world with a production capacity of 7,960 MW. After Turkey, Malaysia comes with a production capacity of 7 thousand 400 MW and the USA with a production capacity of 5 thousand 700 MW.
In addition, the total production capacity of all EU countries is at the level of 3 thousand 200 MW. Accordingly, Turkey is the leader in Europe with its production capacity of 7,960 MW. It is predicted that Turkey will increase its solar production capacity to 9,110 MW with the investments to be made in 2022 and 2023.
On the other hand, investments in wind energy installed power, which exceeded the limit of 10 thousand MW last year, continue unabated this year. The installed power in wind energy, which has spread to many regions of Turkey, especially the Aegean, reached 10,864 MW and approached the 11 thousand MW limit.
The rate of domesticity also increased in equipment used in wind energy production. Domestic production, which first started with the production of “towers”, has diversified and reached a variety that includes turbine production. The wind turbines, blades and towers produced in Turkey are exported to many countries of the world.