It is aimed to generate 1 million 806 thousand kilowatt-hours of energy annually from the 1-megawatt floating solar power plant established on 6 decares of Keban Dam Lake in Elazığ.
In Elazığ, the 1 megawatt Kuzova Floating Solar Power Plant (SPP), established by the 9th Regional Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI) in Keban Dam Lake, will start generating electricity next month.The 9th Regional Directorate of DSI established a 2-megawatt capacity SPP next to the Kuzova Pumped Irrigation Plant, which is used to irrigate 47,830 decares of land in 7 villages on the shore of Keban Dam Lake.
A new one was added to this investment in order to utilize renewable solar energy and reduce the cost of electricity used by farmers to irrigate their lands.
The DSİ Regional Directorate installed a floating SPP on the Keban Dam Lake in the Beşevler hamlet of Fatmalı village.
Turkey’s first floating solar power plant aims to generate 1 million 806 thousand kilowatt-hours of energy annually.
The floating SPP is expected to meet approximately 40 percent of the energy used for irrigation of 47 thousand 830 decares of land in the region with the 2 megawatt capacity terrestrial SPP, which was established on 15 acres and became operational.
“First successful project”
DSİ 9th Regional Director Sebahattin Şamcı told AA correspondent that this project was implemented to contribute to the electricity costs of farmers who produce agricultural products around Keban Dam Lake.
Pointing out that the biggest expense of farmers in the Kuzova region is energy, Şamcı said, “We realized a project as an institution to benefit from solar energy. We started construction in two parts as terrestrial and floating SPP. Currently, the construction of the 2-megawatt terrestrial SPP has been completed. We have completed the 1 megawatt floating SPP and brought it to the acceptance stage. For the first time in Turkey, we implemented the floating SPP project in Elazığ.”
Stating that after this project, the establishment of floating SPPs in other dams in Turkey started to be discussed, Şamcı stated that the law paved the way for the establishment of floating system energy facilities in lakes and dams.
Şamcı said, “One of the first terrestrial SPPs in Turkey was built in Kuzova. Floating SPP was also built in Kuzova. Our aim is also to compare the energy production between terrestrial SPPs and floating SPPs and to make a preliminary examination for the projects we will do in the future. The cost of floating SPPs is slightly higher than terrestrial SPPs, but about 15 percent more energy is obtained. In addition, while it is necessary to occupy 15 decares of land for 1 megawatt in terrestrial SPP, it is possible to fit in 6 decares of land in floating SPP.”
Stating that thanks to the floating SPP, empty and stony lands can also be used for agriculture, Şamcı noted that 1840 panels were installed in the floating SPP.
Stating that there were previous studies on the floating SPP system in Turkey but they were not successful, Şamcı said, “Our first successful project is the Kuzova floating SPP. The purpose of building the floating SPP especially in a beautiful area like Keban is to increase the future development of Keban.”
Stating that approximately 25 percent of the surface area of this system is in contact with water and that they aim to reduce the impact on aquatic life by providing the necessary air circulation, Şamcı noted that they are working with Kocaeli University for this.
Şamcı stated that samples are taken from the water at certain intervals and the research of living creatures is carried out and so far no negativity has been encountered. “Our aim is to support the farmer”
Stating that an energy facility of 3 megawatts is currently being built in Kuzova SPP, he stated that its annual income will be approximately 17 million liras.
Explaining that the energy cost they foresee for 2024 in Kuzova SPP is approximately 33 million liras, that they have installed 2 megawatts of the planned 6 megawatts of SPP as terrestrial SPP, 1 megawatt as floating SPP, and that they will make the remaining 3 megawatts as floating SPP, Şamcı said, “Our aim is to reduce the energy cost of farmers by supporting farmers. When we enter the irrigation season this year, when we start the pumps, we will support our farmers by providing our energy with floating SPP and terrestrial SPP.”
“This project will be the future of Turkey”
Explaining that the 3 megawatt floating SPP to be installed is at the tender stage, Şamcı said that with the floating solar power plant and the 2 megawatt capacity terrestrial SPP that has been put into operation, it is aimed to meet approximately 40 percent of the energy used for irrigation of 47 thousand 830 decares of land in the region.
Stating that with the new 3 megawatt floating SPP they will build next to the floating SPP, the Kuzova pumping station will complete about 80 percent of the energy consumed, Şamcı said:
“This project will be the future of Turkey. Elazığ will lead the way in this. Our farmers will demand water in the first week of June. Then we will operate the pump station with the energy we produce here. Our farmers will easily plant all kinds of crops in the following period and make agriculture with the support provided by the state.”
Şamcı added that the floating SPP installed in the east-west direction will benefit from the entire daylight from sunrise to sunset.
