Solarcati Founder Utku Korkmaz, “If we give an example from the installation of solar energy systems in residences, a 5 kilowatt system can cover the electricity cost of a house, which is approximately ₺7,500 per year.”
Rooftop solar power plants, which enable consumers to generate electricity and sell surplus electricity to the grid, are expected to have a capacity of approximately 1000 megawatts, with an economic size of $600 million next year.
While awareness of rooftop solar power plants is increasing, consumers who want to get rid of electricity costs are investing more in these systems.
AA team viewed the installation phase of the 3.2 kilowatt solar power plant installed on the roof of Hasim Solmaz’s house in Cekmekoy.
Solmaz noted that the regulation paving the way for the sale of excess consumption electricity in rooftop solar power plants to the grid was the motivation for him to make this investment.
Stating that monthly electricity bills are around ₺300, and considering inflation and annual price increases, he calculates that the system will pay itself back in about 7 years, Solmaz said. “The system pays back the principal in a period of 7 years, but we are talking about an investment with a guarantee period of 20-25 years and an economic life of 35-40 years. In this sense, I think it is a very beneficial investment.”
Scale economy is effective in rooftop solar power plant investments
Solarcati Founder Utku Korkmaz stated that at the end of a 3-month period in rooftop solar power plant installations, an electricity consumer can start to produce his own electricity and sell the surplus to the grid.
Explaining that economies of scale are effective in rooftop solar power plants, Korkmaz said:
“If we give an example from the installation of solar energy systems in residences, a 5 kilowatt system can cover the electricity cost of a house, which is approximately ₺7 thousand 500 per year. We can give this production for the conditions of Istanbul. The price of a roof solar installation of this capacity is about ₺65 thousand. However, while it is ₺65 thousand in a 5-kilowatt system, the installation cost is approximately ₺100 thousand when a 10-kilowatt system is installed. The savings or income obtained in this capacity corresponds to approximately ₺15 thousand per year. These figures are valid for Istanbul and since Istanbul is in the north of Turkey, its radiation is relatively low. When we go to the southern provinces where the radiation is higher, the annual savings and income increase much more and the return time accelerates. The return on investment for a residential consumer ranges from 5 to 9 years. Since these are roof projects, they turn into investments that add value to real estate. In large installations, we see that the return on investment in roof-type power plants in a commercial office tariff in regions with higher radiation, such as Antalya, drops to 3.5 years.”
Korkmaz stated that after the installation of the system is completed, electricity production can start to meet the domestic consumption with the preliminary acceptance, and the excess electricity can be sold to the grid with the temporary acceptance.
Highest demand is from businesses
Expressing that there is currently a demand from every subscriber group for rooftop solar power plants, Korkmaz said, “The highest demand is in enterprises and factories, but this is spreading towards the base and will continue to spread. With the introduction of electric vehicles and sophisticated devices into our lives, electricity consumption will increase significantly for households. As a result of this increase, it will become a necessity for everyone to produce their own electricity. This will increase investments. I think that a minimum of 1000 megawatts will be invested in this area next year in Turkey, which corresponds to an economic size of approximately $600 million.”
Korkmaz added that the most obvious problem in terms of the widespread use of rooftop solar power plants on the consumer side is awareness, but this awareness is increasing gradually.
Source: AA / Translated by Irem Yildiz