The offshore wind energy potential in the Marmara region will be converted into investment.

The President of the Turkish Wind Energy Association (TÜREB), İbrahim Erden, made evaluations within the scope of the 13th Turkey Wind Energy Congress (TÜREK 2024), organized this year by TÜREB under the main theme "The Energy of the Future is Turkey's Future."

Stating that significant studies related to offshore wind energy in Turkey were previously monitored by the World Bank and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Erden expressed that this year, areas with potential have been identified and presented based on the guidance and requests of the Ministry.

Erden emphasized that Turkey's offshore wind energy potential is quite high, starting from Thrace and extending to the Marmara, Aegean, and Mediterranean regions, stating, "The studies in the Marmara began with the World Bank. With certain funds provided by the World Bank, the first measurements and engineering studies will commence. Together with our Ministry of Energy, we will continue the engineering and measurement studies related to the potential in both the Marmara and our seas outside."

"HIGH WIND TARGETS MEAN MORE INVESTMENT"

Noting that Turkey is the 6th largest in installed capacity in Europe and the 5th largest in wind industry size, Erden highlighted that this potential can be further advanced.

Erden stressed that investments related to wind energy must be made in Turkey first, stating, "When you make these investments in your country, you first produce for yourself, and then you reach a point where you can export."

Recalling that Turkey has achieved this in the last 15 years, Erden said, "From now on, together with the strategy announced by our Minister, actually higher wind targets, more use of domestic industry, more investment, and reaching a more significant position will mean."

THE WIND SECTOR AWAITS ACCELERATION OF PERMIT PROCESSES

Erden emphasized that the Renewable Energy Strategy for 2035, announced by the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, on October 21, sets very large and bold targets, stating, "Within the framework of the announcement, our Ministry of Energy has increased the previously announced targets of 83 thousand megawatts by 50% to 120 thousand megawatts."

In this context, Erden mentioned that the sector has certain expectations for wind investments to be made, saying, "To make investments, we expect our relevant public institutions to complete the necessary permit processes as quickly as possible and to provide supportive measures to accelerate these processes."

Erden recalled that preparations for the implementation of the "super permit" mechanism aimed at accelerating energy investments are ongoing, stating, "God willing, when we see that this has passed through the parliament by the end of this year or the beginning of next year, we will be pleased to see that these permit processes have accelerated."