Three Engineering/Jokester: Our Country's Electricity Demand is Growing by 4.4% Annually
Foreks - The world is increasing sustainable energy investments to combat climate change and thereby reduce environmental risks. In Turkey, which imports 75% of the energy it uses, renewable energy investments are on the rise. The share of renewable sources in electricity generation is expected to reach 45% by the end of 2024, up from 42.7%.
Turan Şakacı, Chairman and CEO of Üçay Engineering, stated that while renewable energy investments in Turkey are promising, they are still insufficient, pointing out that 75% of energy is still imported. He continued:
"Our country's electricity demand is increasing by 4.4% annually. We import an average of $43 billion each year, equivalent to 5% of GDP, for energy.
As of the end of October 2024, 34.6% of our electricity generation will come from coal, 17.7% from natural gas, 22.9% from hydropower, 10.4% from wind, 8.2% from solar, 3.2% from geothermal energy, and 3% from other sources. These results show that the share of our renewable energy resources compared to fossil fuels is still quite low. It is critically important to invest in renewable energy sources across various sectors, from industry to hotels, hospitals, and shopping centers, to meet Turkey's growing energy demand, reduce dependency on imports, and ensure energy supply security.
The industrial sector sources 2.22% of its energy from renewable sources. The industrial sector accounts for 28.44% of total final energy consumption from electricity, with renewable energy contributing only 2.22%. According to EPDK data, as of 2023, fossil fuels make up 77.48% of energy consumed in the industry. Therefore, despite the increase in renewable energy investments, they are still not at sufficient levels.
Solar Energy Systems (SES) will reduce the financial liabilities of the 'Carbon Border' application. Factories can invest in SES on their rooftops or on any land they own to obtain a portion or all of their electricity from solar energy, supporting sustainability efforts. This investment reduces the carbon footprint of factories and will also decrease the financial responsibilities under the 'Carbon Border' application, which is planned to begin after 2026 as a new trade system by the European Union (EU). In summary, investing in SES is essential for a green, profitable, and robust industry. Additionally, this investment pays off in a short period of 4 to 6 years, depending on the region where the SES is established.
At Üçay Engineering, with nearly a quarter-century of experience in the renewable energy sector, we offer our clients professional and high-efficiency solutions for rooftop SES installations," he said.