Bandirma Wind Power Project

An emerging market economy, Turkey was ranked 23rd highest GHG emitter out of 186 countries by the World Resources Institute. CO2 emissions are growing rapidly in the region, partly due to significant population growth, economic development and increasing urbanisation; and all with a corresponding energy demand. TEIAS, the national electricity transmission company, reported that the demand for electricity in the country has grown by 6.11% over the last 10 years.

The areas surrounding the project and the major commercial port city of Bandirma, focus largely on agricultural activities, covering products such as cereals, sheep wool and meat, cattle, and grain. The province also hosts vast deposits of minerals such as kaolinite, borax, boracite and even gold. Though the mining activities have boosted the region’s overall economy, it also puts the agricultural and tourism activities at risk.

This wind power plant supplies the national grid with approximately 52,000 MWh of clean energy every year, which results in annual emissions reductions of roughly 30,000 tCO2e. This reduces CO2 emissions by displacing electricity which would otherwise have been drawn largely from fossil fuel power stations. Approximately 70% of Turkey’s electricity is generated from fossil fuels while the vast majority of the remaining 30% is generated from large hydro power projects, which are not included in Turkey’s renewable energy law.

In addition to the emission reduction benefits, the project indirectly improves the overall local air quality as it does not create the environmental pollution (such as sulphur dioxide) or solid waste problems associated with coal-fired power plants as well as the ecological damage incurred by the mining, drilling and transportation of fossil fuels. The construction of the Bandirma Wind Project has ensured that the surrounding communities, which rely heavily on agricultural activities and livestock, can continue to use the land for grazing. Had the Bandirma Wind Project not been implemented, the land would have been used for either mining or a landfill, and this was the main concern raised in the project’s consultation meetings.