In many regions of Turkey, the occupancy rates of the dams continue to decrease day by day due to insufficient rainfall in the autumn and winter months.

The drought caused by the end of 2020 with insufficient precipitation and the lack of sufficient precipitation in the first 5 months of 2021 compared to previous years also negatively affected the HEPP plants. Ali Karaduman, Vice President of YENADER, made statements by stating that the continuation of the drought will adversely affect the unit cost of hydropower generation and electricity energy.
Hydroelectric power plants, which are among the sectors affected by the drought that Turkey has experienced in recent years, have an important share in electricity production in our country. According to the statement made by IRENA, the International Renewable Energy Agency, in 2020, our country ranks second in the world after China, with a total of 2,500 MW of new hydroelectric installed power commissioned in 2020.

AVERAGE PRODUCTION OF HEPP PLANTS DROPPED BY 40%

Ali Karaduman, Vice President of Renewable Energy Research Association YENADER, said that as a result of less precipitation than expected in 2020, a significant decrease was observed in water revenues and said, “Drought, which has been felt in the last months, has negatively affected the production in hydroelectric power plants. In the first 4 months of 2021, water revenues were very low, 55.9%, below the long-term average. This lowness has affected all HEPP power plants producing in Turkey. Especially the HEPP plants, which produce below 40 MW capacity, realized the average production in the first 5 months of 2021 at a rate of approximately 40% lower than expected.

DISCOUNTS ON HEPP PLANTS WILL RELIEVE INVESTORS!

Karaduman said that HEPP investors are in financial difficulty due to the drought; “In this process, the discounts to be made in the system usage prices and fees at the HEPP plants will relieve the investors to some extent. Extending the YEKDEM period may also be a solution,” he said.

In addition, Karaduman continued his words by saying that TEİAŞ will purchase 5,000 MW capacity from DGÇS power plants since there is not enough water in the HEPPs in Turkey; “Electricity prices will rise, but EMRA approval to produce the difference between MWe and MWm in WPPs from our already invested power plants will reduce natural gas imports and support our current account deficit. It is in the interest of Turkey to receive the energy to be produced by the plants whose investments have been completed by the system.”