Turkey’s regulator licenses 1 GW Karapınar solar power plant

Following the start of operations of its integrated solar cell plant in Ankara, Kalyon got a license from EMRA for the 1 GW solar power system that it is working on in Turkey’s central Konya region. The two projects are worth USD 1.4 billion overall.

Kalyon Group received a license for the planned solar power plant in Karapınar, south of Ankara, that recieved incentives through Turkey’s Renewable Energy Resources Area (YEKA) scheme. The Energy Market Regulatory Authority – EMRA noted the investment is worth USD 1 billion.

Company filed for preliminary license in 2018

The company won the competition in 2017 for 1 GW in capacity with its bid of USD 69.9 per MWh. It applied for a preliminary license in February 2018. Last month Kalyon opened its integrated solar cell factory, which is included in the umbrella project, worth USD 1.4 billion and also supported by the state.

EMRA regulates electricity, natural gas, downstream petroleum and liquefied petroleum gas.

The future photovoltaic system is under construction in the Konya province. The regulatory panel underscored the largest plant of its kind must reach full capacity within three years. It will be designed to produce 2.6 TWh of power per year, equivalent to the consumption of two million households in the country.

Solar power plant to cut CO2 emissions by two million tons per year

The size of Karapınar is equivalent to a quarter of Turkey’s combined photovoltaic installations. The power plant in the country’s central part will take up an area of 2,600 football fields and the investor said the carbon dioxide emissions savings would be two million tons per annum.

The pace of construction is set at 40 MW every month. The factory in Ankara enables domestic content of 70%, according to the authorities. Its initial solar power panel production capacity is 500 MW. The government claimed it would make up for USD 100 million in imports each year.