Making evaluations regarding the Turkish renewable energy market and storage sector, EDEDER President Can Tokcan reminded that the desire of Turkish investors to invest in storage carefully but quickly is very high and stated that sector NGOs are intensifying their efforts in this area. Stating that they chose the message “Turkey is the Battery Base of the Region” for the Future of Energy and Storage Congress to be held in Ankara on December 25th as EDEDER, Tokcan also gave the message, “With the acceleration of renewable energy investments, storage investments in Turkey also need to accelerate in order for us to be able to manage the grid.” Highlights from Tokcan’s statements are as follows:
“The way to popularize renewables is through ‘storage’”: We are trying to popularize 'renewable' both in Turkey and globally. For this, we have to solve capacity and technical infrastructure problems and establish storage systems. If there is no storage, we cannot popularize renewables any further.
“Türkiye is accelerating in storage, we must manage the network”: Energy Storage investments have accelerated, over 150 Gigawatt-hours have been installed globally, and Turkey is also accelerating in this area. Since this is a strategic issue that requires managing the network, it is imperative that both its management and development are undertaken by local companies. Otherwise, an energy network problem will arise that is fundamentally under the control of companies abroad.
“Let's create added value in Turkey”: We say, 'Let's create added value in Turkey and export abroad.' We want to contribute to the reduction of the current account deficit by reducing natural gas imports, and also stop importing technology and start exporting it. As companies operating in this field, we are developing serious know-how.
“We have an advantage because of our engineering skills and ways of doing business”: Turkey is very close to Europe and has a grasp of European ways of doing business in terms of engineering and business practices. We have a serious engineering advantage. Instead of importing ready-packaged batteries from China, the sector wants to make them in Turkey and export them to the world.
“The industry is waiting for the ‘Regulations to reach their final form’”: The draft of the storage regulation has already been published by the Energy Market Regulatory Authority. Although significant progress has been made, the final version of the Regulations has not yet been published in the Official Gazette. The sector is waiting for this because it includes many critical parameters that affect the investment that will be reflected in the total field. As the Energy Storage Industries Association, we are trying to contribute to the process in parallel with the public's perspective, in order for the added value of the regulations to be produced in Turkey, quality systems to be used in our country and investors to be completed in a way that will protect them. As a sector, we have already started to do business in Europe. We deliver and install products to countries such as Hungary, Bulgaria and Spain. In addition to exporting systems, services and software abroad, our companies have even started to invest in different countries.
“We have the potential to be a very good partner for Europe”: Normally, some things develop in the world, then Turkey somehow adapts to it and tries to develop its muscles accordingly. As a sector, we are currently trying to do the exact opposite. This business is growing all over the world. All of Europe is progressing very quickly in storage investments. When we take into account issues such as a compatible business method with Europe, technical approach, support, software, we have the potential to be a very good partner, especially for Europe, and since they are aware of this, they are currently forming the basis of cooperation in the field of storage with companies in Turkey.
“Public Strategy is Right”: The capacity currently installed in storage systems in the world and serving the grid is close to 130 gigawatt hours. Projections in this area are 2035 terawatt hours by the end of 2! In other words, it is aimed to realize an installation of 2.000 gigawatt hours worldwide. The reason for this is the need to spread renewable energy everywhere and manage the capacity problems that occur. The same situation applies to us. We think that the public has determined a very correct strategy in this area strategically.
“Financial conditions and permit processes must improve”: Financial conditions need to improve because investing in Turkey is currently expensive. But since this is a cycle, we believe that this situation will change over time. Almost everything ends up in storage and Turkish companies are bringing financing from abroad in this area. European banks also prefer to fund such investments with mechanisms such as green bonds.
