Huge interest in wind as Turkey processes projects totalling 78,000 MW

Ample evidence of the huge amount of pent-up interest in wind power in Turkey was fully demonstrated last month when applications for 750 projects totalling a staggering 78,000 MW installed capacity landed on the desk of the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) when it reopened its doors to wind plant permitting applications on November 1 (Windpower Monthly, November 2007). Staff worked through the night to process the flood of applications, which will now be assessed by EMRA in liaison with the transmission network operator prior to granting production licences, the first stage in the permitting process. Though no formal analysis has yet been issued, initial reports indicate that most projects are located in the windy coastal regions and that there is a good showing of foreign investors, either applying independently or with Turkish partners. BP, Iberdrola and Germany's Westwind all feature, alongside local companies Zorlu, Sanko Holdings, Polat Enerji and Enerjisa. The new bank guarantee requirement introduced in October does not appear to have put investors off.