Turkey's southeastern region has vast geothermal energy potential and needs to be further explored, said head of regional development project on Friday.
'To uncover the southeastern region's geothermal energy capacity, we have established the geothermal research project,' said Sadrettin Karahocagil, head of Southeastern Anatolia Project, Regional Development Administration.
The research project already produced a mid-term report. Further data base is required for investors, companies and scientists interested in the region, Karahocagil said.
“Southeastern region of Turkey holds the potential to compete with the rest of the world in terms of renewable energy,” he said and added that the region's hydro, solar and wind potential are already studied, geothermal potential needs to be explored more.
The country currently has 15 geothermal plants with a total capacity of 404 megawatts. Electricity generated from geothermal sources reached 1,770 gigawatt hours as of October.
According to energy ministry, by 2016, Turkey's geothermal installed capacity is expected to increase to 600 megawatts. The country aims to reach an installed capacity of a thousand megawatts by 2023.
Meanwhile, Turkey has increased its geothermal installed capacity, and now ranks ninth in the world, according to the General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration.
Reporting by Esber Ayaydin , Writing by Zeynep Beyza Karabay
Anadolu Agency
zeynep.karabay@aa.com.tr