Electricity production from the three biggest hydropower plants in Turkey jumped 150% in the first quarter from the same period of last year, state-owned Elektrik Üretim AŞ’s (EÜAŞ) data revealed, according to a report by Anadolu Agency’s Energy Terminal.
Combined electricity output in the first quarter reached 3.7 TWh at Ataturk, Karakaya and Keban hydroelectric dams, built on the Euphrates River in eastern Turkey. In the same period of the last year, the three facilities generated 1.5 TWh. Total annual electricity generation was 14.8 TWh, an 18% rise compared to 2014. Last year the three structures met 22.7% of the country’s needs for power.
With more rainfall, Ataturk hydropower plant his estimated to generate 10 TWh by the end of the year. For the same period, Karakaya is expected to produce 7 TWh while Keban should generate 6 TWh of electricity. Last year Ataturk dam generated 5.4 TWh, followed by Keban’s 4.7 TWh and Karakaya’s 4.6 TWh of power.
