Hydroelectricity

Among various sources of energy, hydroelectric power plants are preferred because they are environment-friendly and have a low potential risk. Hydroelectric power plants are an environment-friendly, clean, renewable, lasting and efficient domestic resource with low operational costs and no fuel cost, which is not externally dependent and also serve as a fuse for energy prices.

Turkey's technically feasible hydroelectric potential is 36.000 MW. 150 hydroelectric power plants (HEPP) that are presently in operation correspond to an installed power of 13.830 MW and 38% of the total potential.

16,77% of electricity generated in 2008 came from hydroelectric power plants. Recent draughts have substantially limited the contribution of hydroelectric power plants to electricity generation.

In 2004, hydroelectric power plants generated 46 billion kWh of energy. Although a new 600 MW hydroelectric power plant was commissioned between 2004-2008, our hydroelectric production for 2008 remained at the level of 33 billion kWh.

Due to reasons like failures, maintenance/repair works, operational policy, draughts, etc., overall capacity utilization in energy generation is around 73%. Capacity utilization is 68% in thermal power plants, and 94% in hydroelectric power plants.

We aim at utilizing in electricity generation all hydroelectric potential that is technically and economically viable by the year 2023.

The scope of Law no. 5346 on Renewable Energy Resources (YEK) has been expanded to include wave, stream and tidal energy, and all other sources for generating energy which are suitable for building canal- or river-type hydroelectric power plants, or hydroelectric power plants with a reservoir area of less than 15 km².

Source: Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources