Turkish wind energy investors face construction deadline

Turkish wind energy investors face construction deadline

22 projects, worth €1.5 million, could lose investment licenses because of delays.

Investment licenses for firms wanting to enter the wind energy market will be decertified by Turkey's market regulator unless construction for projects begins by May 2014.

The Turkish Wind Energy Association's head Mustafa Serdar Ataseven told Anadolu Agency (AA) that up to 22 projects, worth €1.5 million, could face cancellation from the Energy Market Regulatory Authority if they do not meet the 2 May 2014 deadline set by an electricity market law passed in 2013. 

He said that some of the projects have valid reasons for being delayed, with many having been hampered by long legal procedures, but that the regulator is negotiating with such investors.

"I hope this problem is solved soon, otherwise wind energy investments would come to a stopping point," said Ataseven.

Emphasizing Turkey’s aims to produce 20,000 megawatts of wind energy by 2014, Ataseven said Turkey is ranked among the top ten countries in terms of installed capacities in Europe, according to Global Wind Energy Council statistics. 

China is the leading country in wind energy with a capacity of 91,424 megawatts and the U.S is second country with nearly 61,000 megawatts. Germany is third with 34,250 megawatts capacity.  

Ataseven said Turkey will host the 2015 Intercontinental Wind Power Congress (IWPC) in Istanbul in March, which will be the first of its type to be attended by both the European Wind Energy Association and the Global Wind Energy Council. 

"Many countries worldwide will attend the organization and our motto is Istanbul connects the continents with wind," said Ataseven.

Reference: http://www.aa.com.tr/en/economy/303192--turkish-wind-energy-investors-face-construction-deadline