HAKAN ERKAN

Current Status of Solar Power Plant Investments in Turkey

Abstract

Solar energy investments in Turkey continue to grow rapidly, with total installed solar capacity exceeding 26 GW. While the majority of installed solar capacity consists of license-free rooftop and ground-mounted solar power plants, a significant increase has also been observed recently in licensed solar power plant and YEKA solar power plant investments.

The continued upward trend in the share of solar (GES) and wind (RES) power plants within Turkey’s total installed capacity, which has reached approximately 125 GW, clearly indicates that solar and wind power projects with energy storage will play a decisive role in the energy transition in the coming period.

In my presentation, I will provide a general assessment of the current state of solar energy in Turkey, the challenges faced by the sector, and proposed solutions to these challenges.

Biography

He graduated from Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Electrical and Electronics in 1986 as an Electrical Engineer.

He started his professional career at NETAŞ Telekomünikasyon A.Ş., then moved to the renewable energy sector in 2001 and worked as a Manager in various organizations. In 2009, he became the founder of the Solar Energy Industrialists and Industry Association (GENSED) and took part in the Board of Directors of the association for a long period. Finally, he worked as General Manager at Arien Elektrik Üretim A.Ş., an investor company in the Wind and Solar Energy sector between 2011-2016 and has been working as Secretary General at GENSED since 2016.

Hakan ERKAN is married and has 2 children.