GiraSolar Plans 100-Megawatt Solar Plant and PV Panel Manufacturing in Turkey

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Written by Richard Finlayson, Senior International Editor for Industrial Info--GiraSolar BV (Deventer, Netherlands) is planning to construct Europe's largest photovoltaic (PV) solar power station and to build a solar panel manufacturing plant in Turkey, which would target exports to Europe and supply panels for domestic projects. GiraSolar is in talks with a local power sector company about the initial $280 million investment required for the 100-megawatt (MW) solar power plant project. The partner would invest 20% of the capital, and 80% would be gleaned from independent investors and institutions, including credits from US Eximbank.

The project developers may schedule the power plant to be completed in 24 months, but could phase in the project over a longer period. Currently, they are considering the most feasible sites for the project, which would need about 2,000 square meters of land to produce each megawatt.

Turkey's renewable energy legislation has set the purchase price for solar sourced energy at $0.133 per kilowatt hour (kW/h). As an incentive for renewable energy projects, the government will purchase power output from a project with a $0.004/0.024 additional premium payment for five years, if the project is constructed with equipment made in Turkey.

Although the European solar industry will be facing problems in funding and a reduction of government tariff incentives in the future, the continent is forecast to maintain its leadership in global PV installations, with more than 68% of the world's installations. European solar installations in 2011 will total 14,300 MW out of a global total of 20,900 MW, with Germany leading with 7,100 MW and Italy second with 4,100 MW. European countries represent nine of the world's top 15 solar markets. In 2010, Europe had 80% of the global market, and growth is forecast to drop to 4.3% from 146% in 2010. A wild card amongst the market growth statistics is the effect that nuclear project reappraisals will have on the energy pick, following the Japanese reactor meltdown.

GiraSolar is looking to build its Turkish and European markets into a solar generating and manufacturing base, from which it can extend more operations south and east. The power plant will be a flagship, with its 100 MW topping the 84.2-MW Monalto di Castro PV Power Station in Italy and the 80.7-MW solar park at Finsterwalde in Germany. The claim to be the largest European solar farm will be contended for by a number of projects, including plans for Vatican City to generate 100 MW of solar power. Other projects are in the ring, and the verification of the claim lies in the project's final commissioning date.

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