5/13/2013

Turkish-German partnership commissions Türkiye’s largest WPP

Yeni Safak – Enerjisa, a JV between Türkiye’s Sabanci Group and German E.ON has launched its third wind power plant (WPP) in Türkiye. Holding the title of ‘Türkiye’s largest wind power installation by capacity’, Enerjisa Bares-Balikesir Wind Power Plant, in northwestern Türkiye has an installed power of 143 MW making it the most capacious facility that relies on wind to generate electricity.


Named after the province it is located in, the plant cost EUR 135 million to complete, with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) providing the financing.


“Türkiye needs to double its power generation capacity to feed its many industries.”, Türkiye’s Minister of Energy, Taner Yildiz, said at the opening ceremony, drawing attention to the fact that the country’s growth rate was exceeding that of its renewable sources such as the wind, solar and geothermal. “Diversification remains a key element in Türkiye’s energy strategy.”, the energy minister said, recalling last week’s multi-billion nuclear power plant deal signed between Türkiye and Japan.


Speaking at the commissioning, Sabanci Group Chairwoman Guler Sabanci said that the group’s investments in Türkiye’s energy sector have topped TRY 7 billion (Approx. USD 3.8 billion), a sign of confidence in the country.


Enerjisa’s other partner E.ON, the German energy company that replaced Austria’s Verbund last year, announced that Enerjisa Bares was the first investment of the duo and an important step towards realizing the company’s long-term goals.


Enerjisa plans to reach an installed capacity of 7,500 MW by 2020 and a user base of 9 million people for its electricity grids. The Turkish-German company also plans to expand its business in Türkiye to cover natural gas segment of the local energy market.


Wind energy will take up a considerable proportion of Türkiye’s planned capacity of about 100,000 MW in 2023, of which the country aims to generate 20,000 MW from wind turbines alone.

Image of Wind Turbine