CNBC-e Business – Türkiye’s first locally developed and produced wind turbine will start to roll late next year, representing a significant leap in the country’s quest for cleaner, and cheaper, forms of energy. Developed by a team of experts and scientists from Sabanci University, The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUBİTAK), Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ-TAI), Istanbul Technical University (ITU), and Istanbul Ulasim AS, The National Wind Energy System (MILRES) project aims to promote the use of renewable sources in energy production and lay the foundation of a local wind energy industry.
In the works for some 2.5 years, the TRY 50 million (approx. USD 26 million) project’s first stage is expected to be completed late next year with the unveiling of a 500 KW wind turbine. A larger, 2500 KW model will be constructed by 2014, and will be built entirely by local engineering talent and using locally sourced parts. As one of the biggest ever research and development projects in Türkiye’s history, it is hoped that MILRES will match the automotive industry’s contribution to the country’s economy within the next 5 years.
The breakthrough comes as Türkiye plans to reduce its dependency on imported fossil fuels by increasingly utilizing its renewable energy potential. By the centennial of the republic in 2023, the country aims to have a 20,000 MW installed capacity generated by wind turbines. The cost of investment in equipment amounts to USD 30 billion for such a capacity, a quarter of which Türkiye intends to procure by local means.