In a recent article, we mentioned the significant investment that the French energy company TotalEnergies will make with Rönesans Holding in Turkey's renewable energy sector, with an initial target of 1000 megawatts and a final target of 5000 megawatts. The goal of the Turkish National Energy Plan is to increase the share of renewable energy in Turkey's installed capacity to 65% by 2035.
In fact, Turkish Energy Minister Bayraktar recently told his country's media that several agreements were signed with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates during President Erdogan's latest visit to the Gulf, stressing that: "We will cooperate with these three countries in other energy sectors, particularly renewable energy, in the coming period"
Related to the above is a Turkish media article titled, "Great interest in Turkey! Minister Bayraktar: A very serious energy deal is on the agenda", which states:
"Recalling that energy cooperation was discussed with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid an official visit as part of his Gulf tour, Bayraktar said Saudi Arabia and Qatar also want to develop energy projects with Turkey.
Bayraktar said they have been largely focused on energy projects that are likely to be implemented with the UAE in the last two months. "We have a set of projects that includes offshore wind, natural gas and hydrogen and green ammonia production projects," he said.
Stressing that Gulf countries are particularly interested in the renewable energy sector in Turkey, Bayraktar said: "Because the companies investing in Turkey know our country, we aim to establish a major energy cooperation with Saudi Arabia in this regard, the amount of which has not been specified , but it will be for 4-5 thousand megawatts of renewable energy. We see that they are interested in the project. We want to develop regional cooperation with the surrounding countries, both in electricity and gas. We have seen that the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have desires and requirements there as well."
Target investments to produce 5000 megawatts in annually from renewable energy sources
Pointing out that Turkey plans to invest to produce 3,500 megawatts of solar and 1,500 megawatts of wind power every year by 2035, Bayraktar said:
"When we think of a power plant that can continuously produce electricity, it will be like we have put into operation about 6 new Ataturk dams when we implement these projects."
Nuclear power and the contribution of Akkuyu
Stating that nuclear should be included in Turkey's energy basket to fight climate change, reducing foreign dependence and security of supply, Bayraktar said:
"Akkuyu gained nuclear facility status with the arrival of fuel on April 27. Hopefully, in 2024, the first electricity will be generated from the reactor.
So in the coming years, with the activation of other reactors, 10% of Turkey's electricity demand will be met by Akkuyu with about 4 reactors."
Regarding new nuclear power projects, Bayraktar said:
Eastern Thrace in the new nuclear energy plans
"For the Thrace project, we are mainly negotiating with the People's Republic of China and related companies. Our negotiations have reached a significant level of maturity.
We have been working with Rosatom on another project, Sinop, for years. South Korea also wants to reflect its experience in this matter in our country. Negotiations with them are continuing in Turkey. Our goal is to conclude them in the coming months and start meaningful field work on this issue."
Minister Bayraktar also said that cooperation with the US and the UK on small modular reactors is being evaluated.
Bayraktar also mentioned Turkey's goal to be carbon neutral in 2053, adding: "We aim for a Turkey that is a net exporter of resources and technology."
Concerns - risks for Greece
From the above pompous energy announcements about alliances and goals of Turkish Energy Minister Bayraktar, we stand by the offshore wind energy projects that Turkey and UAE have been planning for the last two months and the project according to the Turkish nuclear energy plan in Eastern Thrace.
As Bloomberg reports, Turkey is in talks with Chinese state-owned energy company State Power Investment Corp. for the plant in the Kirklareli (Forty Churches) region in Eastern Thrace.
Regarding the aforementioned Turkish offshore wind projects, commonly known as offshore wind farms, where will they be set up?
How would Greece react if Turkey, in cooperation with a UAE company, were to attempt to create offshore wind farms within the Greek continental shelf - EEZ in the SE Mediterranean, south of Kastelorizo, beyond 6nm or in the Aegean Sea?
In case of construction of the nuclear power plant at Saranta Ekklesia in Eastern Thrace, what would be the impact of any radioactive waste in the Tunza River and through it to the Evros River to which it contributes at Adrianople and by extension to the North Aegean?
Finally, in the event of an accident at Akouyou and Saranda Churches, how would Greece be affected?
