SOLAR POWER IN TURKEY

SOLAR POWER AND THE USE OF IT IN TURKEY

• Besides being a new and renewable energy source, solar power has been a subject that a lot of work is being done on in these days because it doesn’t pollute the environment, it can be used locally and doesn’t need a complex technology. Heating and cooling buildings, seasoning plants and producing electricity are some areas that solar power is used in. Also some industrial facilities use solar energy.

THE POTENTIAL OF SOLAR ENERGY IN TURKEY

• Our country, when compared to world countries, is more adventgous on the point of solar energy potential because of its geographical status. The average total sunshine duration of Turkey is detected to be about 2640 hours (daily total 7.2 hours) and total radiation volume 1311kWh/m² per year (daily total 3.6kWh/m²).

THE POTENTIAL SOLAR ENERGY IN TURKEY

Because of Turkey’s geographical position, the southern (Mediterranian) and western(Aegean) parts of Turkeyuse most commonly solar power forheating water.

The use of solar energy is very common in Agean region.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS IN TURKEY

• Solar cells- photovoltaic systems

• Solar cells are still the most appropriate type of energy in places which electric network can not reach. Assembled solar power being used in road lighting, telecommunication stations, beacons, fire observation stations of general directorate of forestry in Turkey is about 300kW.

• Solar collectors:

• Assembled solar collector numbers in Turkey for the year 2001 is about 7.5 million m2. Commonly being used in Aegean and Mediterranean regions, heat energy produced from solar power is about 290 TEP per year. There are approximately more than 100 companies that produce solar cells and 2000 people employed in these companies. Productivity capacities of these companies are about 750 thousand m² per year and some of the produced solar cells are being exported. Thus, Turkey has been a noteworthy country in production and use of solar collectors.

• THE AREAS THAT SOLAR SYSTEMS ARE USED IN TURKEY

• During active heating and producing electric energy.

• Heating drinking and pool water; boiling and cooking.

• Distillation of salty and carbonated water.

• Producing steam motors and other thermodynamic heat conversions.

• Warming greenhouses, seasoning herbal products.

• Day and night lighting.

• Conversing photochemicals and photosentetics.

• Producing hydrogen gas from solar power by electrolysis.