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Turkiye first floating solar power plant will start electricity production in June

The 1-megawatt Kuzova Floating Solar Power Plant (GES), built on 6 acres of land in the Keban Dam Lake in Elazığ, is set to commence electricity production next month.

Installed by the 9th Regional Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) in Elazığ, the Kuzova GES aims to utilize renewable solar energy to reduce the cost of electricity used for irrigation by farmers in 7 villages encompassing 47,830 hectares of land along the Keban Dam Lake shore.

This investment adds another initiative to benefit from renewable solar energy and reduce electricity costs for farmers using it to irrigate their lands.

The DSİ Regional Directorate constructed the Kuzova Floating GES on the Keban Dam Lake in the Fatmalı village’s Beşevler hamlet area.

The goal of Turkey’s first floating solar power plant is to generate 1,806,000 kilowatt-hours of energy annually.

It is aimed that the floating GES, covering 15 acres, along with the operational 2-megawatt terrestrial GES, will meet approximately 40% of the energy used to irrigate the 47,830 hectares of land in the region.

“The first successful project” Sebahattin Şamcı, the Director of the 9th Regional Directorate of DSİ, told an AA correspondent that this initiative was implemented to contribute to the electricity expenses of farmers engaged in agricultural production around the Keban Dam Lake.

Şamcı pointed out that the biggest expense for farmers in the Kuzova region is electricity, saying, “As an institution, we realized a project to benefit from solar energy. We started the construction in two parts, terrestrial and floating GES. We have completed the construction of the 2-megawatt terrestrial GES. We have also completed the 1-megawatt floating GES and brought it to the acceptance stage. We implemented the first floating GES project in Elazığ, Turkey.”

Following this project, discussions have begun about establishing floating GESs in other dams in Turkey, and with the law enacted, the way has been opened for the establishment of floating energy facilities on lakes and dams.

Şamcı said, “One of the first terrestrial GESs built in Turkey was also built in Kuzova. The floating GES was also built in Kuzova. Our goal is to compare energy production between terrestrial and floating GESs to make a preliminary assessment for future projects. The cost of floating GESs is slightly higher than terrestrial GESs, but approximately 15% more energy is obtained. Additionally, while 1 megawatt requires 15 acres of land for terrestrial GES, it is possible to fit into 6 acres for floating GES.”

Şamcı expressed that through floating GES, barren and rocky lands could also be utilized for agriculture, mentioning that 1840 panels were laid in the floating GES.

He stated that there were previous studies on floating GES systems in Turkey but they did not succeed, saying, “Our first successful project is the Kuzova floating GES. We especially aimed to increase the future development of Keban by implementing the floating GES in such a beautiful area.”

He explained that approximately 25% of the surface area of this system was in contact with water, aiming to reduce its impact on aquatic life by providing necessary air circulation, stating that they conducted studies in collaboration with Kocaeli University.

Sampling is periodically taken from the water to examine the organisms, and so far, no negative impact has been encountered, Şamcı added.

“Our goal is to support farmers” He mentioned that a 3-megawatt energy facility is currently being built in Kuzova GES, stating that its annual income would be approximately 17 million liras.

He stated that the estimated energy cost for Kuzova GES in 2024 was approximately 33 million liras, explaining that they established 2 megawatts of terrestrial GES and 1 megawatt of floating GES for the planned 6-megawatt GES, and they would build the remaining 3 megawatts as floating GES. He said, “Our goal is to support farmers and reduce the energy costs of farmers. When we enter the irrigation season this year and start the pumps, we will support our farmers by providing our energy with both floating and terrestrial GESs.”

“This project will be Turkiye future”

Şamcı stated that the establishment of the 3-megawatt floating GES was in the tender stage, saying that with the floating solar power plant and the operational 2-megawatt terrestrial GES, it is aimed to meet approximately 40% of the energy used for irrigation in the region covering 47,830 hectares of land.

He said that with the new 3-megawatt floating GES to be established next to the floating GES, Kuzova pump station would have completed approximately 80% of the consumed energy, adding, “This project will be Turkey’s future, and Elazığ will lead this. Our farmers will have a demand for water in the first week of June. At that time, we will operate the pump station with the energy we produce here. Our farmers will easily engage in agriculture in the future with all kinds of seeds with the support provided by the state.”

Şamcı added that by establishing the floating GES in the east-west direction, they would benefit from all sunlight from sunrise to sunset.

source: aa.com.tr/ prepared by Melisa Beğiç

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