GiraSolar, a US-Dutch solar company, has begun talks with a local energy firm to build Turkey’s first and Europe’s biggest photovoltaic power station. It will be the largest in the European zone, generating 100 MW at a site in the south of the country.
The largest P, power plants in Europe currently are Montalto di Castro in Italy (84.2 MW), Finsterwalde Solar Park in Germany, (80.7 MW), Rovigo in Italy (70 MW), Olmedilla PV Park in Spain (60 MW), Strasskirchen (54 MW) and Lieberose PV Park (53 MW) both in Germany.
The company's chief executive officer Wieland M. Koornstra said the company planned to manufacture the solar panels in Turkey rather than importing. “I am completely sure that we could manufacture the panels at the same price as China,” he said. “In this way, we would avoid the transportations cost as well.”
Noting that there is no solar panel market yet in Turkey, Koornstra said: “We are planning to export the solar panels to European countries. Many firms will inquire about Turkish-made solar panels once we complete this solar power station project in the country.”
According to the Turkish Renewable Energy Law, the purchase price for electricity generated from solar power is $0.133 per kilowatt hour. The law also offers a further incentive to renewable energy facilities and states that, provided the technical equipment used in the facility is produced within Turkey’s borders, the facility will be paid an additional $0.004-0.024 per kilowatt hour of electricity purchased by the state for five years after the plant becomes active.
Without disclosing the name of the company, Koornstra said: “We are [currently] having discussions with our Turkish partner about the project. At the start of the project nearly 200 million euros will be invested in the power plant.”
“To produce 1 MW electricity we will need nearly 2,000 square meters of land,” said Koornstra. “We are in search of the most feasible location at the moment. We could build the plant within two years.”
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