The amount of water coming to Turkey's main basin dams due to drought was 50 percent below the long-term average in the first 5 months of the year.
As of the end of May, Turkey's hydroelectric installed power rose to 31,500 megawatts, accounting for 32 percent of the total electricity installed capacity.
Although the share of hydroelectric power plants in electricity production has increased significantly, the share of these power plants in production has started to decrease due to the drought experienced since the last months of last year.
Renewable Energy Investors Association (GUYAD) President Cem Özkök told Anadolu Agency (AA) that according to the data of the General Directorate of Meteorology, the hottest and driest year of the last 40 years has been experienced.
Stating that as of the end of May, the amount of water coming to the main basin dams in Turkey was 65 percent less than the average for many years, Özkök said, "When we look at the first 5 months of this year, we see that the amount of water coming to the main basin dams is 50 percent below the long-term average. In normal or abundant periods, hydroelectric power plants used to have a 40 percent share in electricity production, but when we look at the month of May, we see that the share of these power plants in total electricity production remained at the level of 23 percent. The share of hydroelectric power plants in total production in the first 5 months of the year was 21.7 percent." shared his knowledge.
"Drought also deeply affected hydroelectric power plants"
Özkök stated that as the share of hydroelectricity in electricity generation decreased, the share of natural gas power plants increased.
Stating that the share of natural gas in electricity production increased to 27 percent in the first 5 months of this year, Özkök said, "We see that this rate approaches 40 percent in June." said.
Expressing that drought is one of the most harmful but least understood natural disasters, Özkök said:
"It is a fact that drought, which is also considered as a force majeure in public contracts, affects hydroelectric power plants deeply. In fact, we are facing a socio-economic drought. Considering this situation, I think that hydroelectric power plants should be supported to reduce the effects of drought. ' and hydroelectric power plants should be supported. Drought is the problem of all of us, we must produce the solution together as the public and private sectors."
On the other hand, Özkök noted that it is critical for Turkey to benefit from renewable energy potential, especially wind and solar, at the highest level, both in terms of climate change and reducing the current account deficit, and reminded that the installed capacity of wind energy is approaching 10 thousand megawatts.
Özkök stated that the capacity in solar energy is over 7 thousand megawatts at the moment, "If the desired speed is achieved in the installation of roof-type solar power plants, I think we will pass the 10 thousand megawatt dam in solar energy capacity by the second half of 2023." he said.
Source: AA