Turkey taps into sunlight

ANKARA — Investments in the solar energy industry worth 1.2 billion euros (TL 3.52 billion), long sought by investors, will start within this year. After the Energy Market Regulatory Authority and the Ministry of Energy examined the applications of the investors, the Authority decided to call for a tender in May for areas in Elazığ and Erzurum, in the east of the country.

Companies that guarantee to pay the highest amount to the state will start to generate electricity out of solar energy allowing Turkey to start generating national electricity out of the solar energy. The renewable energy market which came into force in March 2013 allotted area in Turkey for the production of 600 megawatts solar energy.

In these areas, 496 companies intend to invest at a cost of 15 billion euros. Following the first tenders, it is expected that the whole process of investment in the solar energy will be completed at the end of the year. Authorities said solar energy technologies will improve rapidly. "The cost of generating solar energy is swiftly decreasing," said executives of the national regulatory authority. "That is why the Ministry of Energy imposed a certain quota for the generation of electricity out of solar energy.