Turkey’s new "2015-2019 Energy Strategic Plan" was announced by Energy Minister Taner Yildiz in Ankara last Wednesday.
According to the strategic plan, raising electricity saving awareness among the public will have a crucial role in widely extending Turkey’s energy efficiency policy.
The plan emphasized that energy efficiency potential has not been evaluated adequately in Turkey which has rich potential in this area.
The ministry and associated corporations will provide financial and technical support to develop the current level of efficiency lead by the Energy ministry who will take an active role to raise energy efficiency and energy saving awareness in Turkey.
In order to raise energy efficiency, investigations are ongoing to repair, modernize and rehabilitate existing generation plants.
In electricity consumption for general lighting in Turkey, the traditional street lighting will be replaced with energy efficient lights the end of 2014. An aim to have a 40 percent saving in electricity by the final date of the plan is in place.
Localized electricity production is aimed to increase by 2019, and consumption will be met by at least 1,000 MW from local electricity generation plants, the plan says.
Energy efficiency in public buildings which belong to the Energy Ministry, aims to be increased by at least 20 percent by the end of 2014.
The plan also incorporates a goal to have energy performance certificates. Local and central ministry buildings will be awarded with energy performance certification and for this application, two public institutions will be formed under the energy ministry.
Energy performance certificates classifies buildings in an alphabetical system, ranking from G being the least efficient to A being the most efficient similar to the classification of energy efficiency for white goods.
By Gulsen Cagatay
Anadolu Agency
gulsen.cagatay@aa.com.tr