Turkey tests first floating 250 kW solar power plant in Istanbul

Turkey got its first floating solar plant on August 4 when a solar array of 250 kW became operational on lake Büyükçekmece lake outside Istanbul as a test which could lead to more similar facilities on lakes and reservoirs. The floating power plant was set up by Istanbul Energy and the Istanbul Water and Sewage Department (ISKI) under a tender published in August 2016.

The floating solar plant has a total of 960 multi-crystalline (60-cell) modules with nominal power of 260 W each.

Two other floating solar power systems are being tested in other areas outside the city to calculate water evaporation and quality, algae accumulation and possible power generation levels.

ISKI said in a press release that, depending on the results of the initial test stage, the floating system will be enlarged with plans to place similar floating power generation facilities on other water resources in the Istanbul area. The city authorities said the goal is to reduce evaporation in water resources in summer months in order to contribute to higher power production for the city’s consumers.

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Secretary General Hayri Baraçlı said the goal is for the city to produce its own power from renewable energy sources. The statement from the city authorities said the goal is to produce 55 percent of the power the city consumes by the year 2023.

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality said it also plans to build floating power systems on the Terkos and Ömerli dams which have large surface areas on their reservoirs.

Floating solar and wind power plants are already being tested in the Netherlands, Taiwan and in Singapore while China, Japan, South Korea, Great Britain and Thailand have operational floating power plants producing energy for their national grids.

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality did not specify the manufacturer of the floating solar modules.