Geothermal energy could help meet 30% of demand for district heating in Turkey
The Bay of Izmir, Turkey (source: flickr/ Joe Taylor, creative commons)
Alexander Richter
26 Nov 2018
Turkey could fuel up to 30% of its district heating demand with geothermal energy and save up to 20% of its gas imports, so the Consul General of Denmark to Turkey.
According to Danish Consul General Anette Snedgaard Galskjot, Turkey could cut its gas imports by 20% and meet up to 30% of its heating demand for district heating utilising geothermal energy.
Highlighting the importance of district energy, she highlights the role of utilising surplus energy from power plants or renewable energy sources, such as geotheraml in providing economic and sustainable energy.
About 69% of Denmark’s population uses district heating and about 100% in its capital city of Copenhagen, essentially helping households to save about 40% in expenditure for heating due to higher efficiency.
Denmark is pushing for advances in district heating, with geothermal a real option, as we recently reported and Turkey is also interested in further development in district heating.
With geothermal energy utilisation in Izmir and neighbouring towns, as well as in Kirsehir and Afyon in central Anatolia, and other examples of successful district heating systems, show that it helps households to pay up to 50% less than previously used sources.
With a strategic energy cooperation signed in 2017, the Danish Energy Agency and Turkey’s Energy and Natural Resources Ministry there could be further cooperation on these issues.
“We are very enthusiastic about the Turkish government’s interest in renewable energy and especially in district heating,” she said, adding that a number of Danish companies are interested in doing business in Turkey. To promote this system further in Turkey, she said that a District Heating System conference would be held on Nov. 27 in Izmir where representatives of both countries will discuss current developments, including the ability to utilize renewable energy for district heating in some regions.
The potential of utilising renewable energy is large and with the use of geothermal energy the country could cut back in foreign currency expenditure for gas imports.
Turkey is currently working on a legislation for heating, the Heating Act, which is set to regulate Turkey’s heating through clearly defined regulations, responsibilities and management for district heating. The work on this act is part of the Danish-Turkish cooperation. Following a public consultation, the law is expected to come into force in March or April 2019.
Source: Daily Sabah/ Anadolu Agency
ThinkGeoEnergy’s sister publication JeotermalHaberler will be hosting its 4th Annual IGC Turkey – Geothermal Congress in Izmir/ Turkey in November 2019 and District Heating options will be part of the program.
