China’s CEEC unveils giant project in Turkey for solar with batteries

China Energy Engineering Corp. – CEEC, also known as Energy China, signed a deal through its CEOIC subsidiary with Turkish companies İhlas Holding and Sungen Solar Energy, which will participate with 10% each in a hybrid renewable energy project. The partnership envisages the construction of a solar power plant of 200 MW in capacity and a battery system of 65 MW.

Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Nevzat Şatıroğlu emphasized the importance of bringing a new photovoltaic and battery storage project in Turkey to life as soon as possible. He expressed his hope that it would be beneficial both for his country and China.

Istanbul-based İhlas Holding said it signed a memorandum of understanding on strategic cooperation with China Energy Overseas Investment Co. (CEOIC) and fellow Turkish company Sungen Solar Energy.

They are launching an investment of 250 MW in peak capacity – photovoltaics and battery energy storage systems (BESS). As part of the agreement, the companies intend to build a solar power plant with a total capacity of 200 MW and an energy storage system with a capability of 65 MW.

It would currently be one of the largest photovoltaic systems in Turkey and Southeastern Europe and the largest one with batteries.

Additional storage envisaged in later stage

İhlas said an energy storage facility with a capacity of 200 MWh and 250 MW in nameplate operating power would be integrated at a later stage. The Turkish conglomerate revealed that it aims to continue the partnership.

CEOIC is the investment arm of state-owned China Energy Engineering Corp. – CEEC or Energy China. Sungen Solar Energy is an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) or construction management (EPCM) contractor. It is a Turkish-German joint venture partnership formed in 2013.

CEEC to hold 80% in new project firm

The companies signed the agreement in Ankara. According to İhlas, it will hold 10%, as will Sungen, while CEOC will control 80% of a firm they plan to establish. It would be tasked with developing the project, building the hybrid power plant and operating it.

CEEC has entered the Turkish market in 2001 and undertaken more than 70 projects, its Chairman Lyu Zexiang said. “By signing this memorandum of understanding with Sungen and İhlas, we are taking a concrete step in launching our first integrated investment, construction, and operation model project in Turkey,” he stated.

Şatıroğlu added that the ministry’s priorities are the security of energy supply, minimizing and eliminating energy dependency and the achievement of Turkey’s net zero emissions target by 2053.