The Global Geothermal Alliance was established at the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Paris, France, with the participation of 38 countries to increase the global share of geothermal energy. The International Geothermal Association is also among the Alliance Partners, including Turkey.
The decision was taken by the 38 country representatives of the Global Geothermal Alliance to increase the electricity produced from geothermal energy, which is a cleaner and safer source for future generations, by 500 percent (%) from its current level by 2030.
Expressing that the conference held in Paris is a step for the whole world, Muharrem Balat, President of the International Geothermal Energy Association and Chairman of the Board of MB Holding, said; “Although there are geothermal resources identified in 90 countries around the world, only 24 of these countries produce geothermal electricity. This corresponds to 6% of the estimated global geothermal energy potential. We would like to announce that we give the green light to all kinds of support and partnerships to develop geothermal energy.”
“We Can Travel the Whole World for Geothermal Energy If Necessary”
Balat continued his words as follows:
“Geothermal exploration activities in our country gained momentum in the early 1960s. Electricity production from geothermal energy was achieved with the classical steam turbine application made by the state in the Kızıldere Geothermal Field in 1984.
Following this application, the DORA-1 Geothermal Power Plant with an installed capacity of 8.5 MWe, which was realized by the private sector and is the first private sector geothermal power plant facility in our country, was put into operation in 2006. We put the DORA-2 power plant with an installed capacity of 11.5 MWe into operation in 2008, followed by the DORA-3 Unit-1 and DORA-3 Unit-2 with an installed capacity of 34 MWe in 2014. We plan to put DORA-4, which will have an installed capacity of 17 MWe, into operation as of 2016. Currently, the total installed geothermal power capacity of MB Holding has reached 54 MWe.
We encountered many obstacles on this difficult path. We obtained the authorization to produce electricity for the DORA-1 power plant, aiming to meet the energy needs of our yarn factory in Gaziantep. Then, while opening DORA-1, the free electricity production law came into effect. Thus, we had the chance to sell the electricity we produced to TEİAŞ. Since there was no previous example in Turkey, the DORA-1 Power Plant, which we carried out with our own knowledge and experience in every stage, opened Turkey’s horizons in geothermal.”
Expressing that the effects of climate change can be reduced thanks to geothermal energy, Muharrem Balat said; “In geothermal energy, in addition to electrical energy production, the use of heat energy and its integrated use feature increases the emission reduction value of the source many times over. When we look at the decision taken regarding geothermal resources at the 21st Meeting of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Paris, we see that this practice has already become a state policy in the last 15-20 years.
With the increase in the use of geothermal potential in our country, the installed power of electricity production from geothermal energy has increased by 300% in the last two years. Today, 615 MWe GES installed power has been reached. I would like to emphasize that our country has the potential to develop geothermal energy. If we are thinking about our future, we should bring these resources to light, and in addition to cooperation, we should ensure that the incentives and supports given to geothermal energy resources are increased. When our goals are met, Türkiye will be ranked 3rd in the world in geothermal energy production.
This shows us how right the path we are on is. The sentences we used and the goals we set when we decided to provide service and investment in this area 10 years ago have become international goals at the Paris Conference today. Our new goal is to leave a green mark on the world and to establish a clean future for new generations. If necessary, we can travel all over the world, build a power plant or encourage people for geothermal energy to achieve this goal.”
We Will Support Our Stakeholders
Addressing the importance of the declaration held in Paris and stating that they will overcome the obstacles to geothermal energy with unity and solidarity, Balat, President of the International Geothermal Energy Association, said; “One of the smartest steps that can be taken in this regard is unity and solidarity. Experience cooperation and healthy coordination between stakeholders will remove the obstacles to the development of geothermal energy.
On this path, which we set out with the principle of strength in unity, we will support the Global Geothermal Alliance as the International Geothermal Energy Association and increase the use of this environmentally friendly, clean and renewable energy source all over the world. In this context, we will support stakeholders in geothermal policies, legislation, technologies and financing areas by ensuring that exploration, drilling, investment and operational risks are reduced in order to complete the different advantages offered by different stakeholders in the best way.” Balat, who stated that they frequently asked him whether he would invest in other energy sources after his investments in geothermal, said; “Geothermal is an unopened rosebud. Our aim is to first develop and evaluate such a valuable resource. If we use geothermal energy carefully, it will never lose its renewable quality and will not fade. It will remain loyal to you and your country. That’s why I want to help develop geothermal instead of taking on other resources,” he concluded.
