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JED Chairman Kindap: ‘Renewable energy plants were the savior in the earthquake disaster’

JED Chairman Kindap: ‘Renewable energy plants were the savior in the earthquake disaster’ Ali Kindap, President of the Geothermal Energy Association (JED) (source: JED)
Carlo Cariaga 16 Mar 2023

JED President Ali Kindap stated that the renewable energy plants in the Türkiye operated without interruption despite the earthquakes.

The 7.8 and 7.7 magnitude earthquakes in Kahramanmaras on February 6 served as a test for Türkiye’s installed power of electricity. Although the installed power of 2800 MW was deactivated due to the damage in the Afsin-Elbistan Thermal Power Plants, located at the very epicenter of the earthquake, there was no power cut in the provinces outside the earthquake effect.

Pointing out that this generation, which corresponds to approximately 2%t of Türkiye’s installed electrical power, stopped within seconds, Geothermal Energy Association (JED) Chairman of the Board Ali Kindap said, “There are significant renewable energy investments, especially wind power plants, in the earthquake region. Our power plant, which is in operation in ten provinces, continues its production without interruption, with a total installed power of 2700 MW, 963 MW WPP, and 1736 MW SPP. We have experienced in this great disaster how important our country’s success in diversifying its energy resources is. It is a great success that renewable energy-based production does not stop and continues to be produced in provinces affected by earthquakes that took place in a period of intense energy consumption.”

Arguing that Türkiye should reduce the share of hydrocarbon-based electricity generation such as natural gas and coal much faster, he emphasized that the share of renewable resources should be increased to 75%.

JED President Ali Kindap continued:

“The energy security of our country is at least as important as earthquake security. In disasters like Kahramanmaras and Hatay-centered earthquakes, energy plants should continue their production and uninterrupted energy should be provided to cities outside the disaster areas.

The Aegean Region, where geothermal power plants are clustered, is also among the most active earthquake zones in our country. While ?zmir was devastated by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake centered in Samos on October 30, 2020, our power plants, which are much closer to the center of the earthquake, were not damaged, and our production continued without interruption”

Ali Kindap said that dependency on imported energy sources during massive panic like earthquakes is an important risk factor for countries in extraordinary situations where ports, roads, and highways can be damaged.

Current usage is far below our potential

Pointing out that providing energy from clean sources, as well as being domestic and sustainable, has the effect of reducing dependency and that this situation offers more flexible conditions in terms of supply, Kindap stated that geothermal is a resource that distinguishes it positively from all conventional and renewable energy sources in this respect.

Noting that energy can be produced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with geothermal, Ali Kindap made the following assessment:

“With the integrated use of geothermal resources, we can create value in many different areas. In this field, we increased our installed capacity more than 100 times from 2010-2020 and created a success story that resonated all over the world. Today, 1691 MW of electrical energy production; Our geothermal energy use, which is over 6700 MW in total, which we benefit from indirect usage areas such as 5020 MW residential heating, greenhouse cultivation, thermal tourism, cooling, tropical fisheries, is unfortunately far below our country’s potential.”

Source: Email correspondence via our Turkish language platform JeotermalHaberler