Wind Energy

With its fast growing economy, increasing population and energy demand, Turkey has become one of the fastest growing energy markets in the world in the last two decades. Due to the limited oil and natural gas reserves, Turkey has made great progress in recent years to take advantage of its renewable energy sources to minimize fossil fuel imports and increase energy security. According to the Wind Energy Potential Atlas (REPA), the theoretical wind energy potential in Turkey is around 48 GW. Considering the existing electricity grid infrastructure, it is calculated that the wind energy potential that can be connected to the electricity grid is at the level of 10,000 MW. With the arrangements that can be made in the electricity grid, it seems possible to increase the wind energy potential that can be connected to the electricity grid in the medium term to 20,000 MW.

The average wind speed for Niğde is 3.06 m/s.

Power Capacity of the Wind Power Plant that can be Installed in Niğde Province               

The total area for the wind power plant that can be installed in the province of Niğde is determined as 12.42 km² and the total installed power capacity 62.08 MW. Karakapı Wind Power Plant project with an installed capacity of 40 MW is located in Altunhisar district of Niğde province.       

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is a renewable, sustainable and endless energy source that includes the utilization of thermal energy, which exists in hot water, steam, gas or hot rocks in the earth's crust, by extracting it to the earth. Turkey has the 7th largest geothermal energy potential in the world with 31,500 MW due to its location on the Alpine-Himalaya earthquake zone. In our country, direct utilization of geothermal energy is benefited in central heating, greenhouse heating and thermal tourism. It is used for central residence heating in 18 settlements (67,700 residences equivalent, 608 MWt), for greenhouse cultivation in 15 sites (1,579,000 m2, 292 MWt) and for treatment and thermal tourism in over 200 thermal facilities in our country.

Niğde is substantially rich in geothermal energy resources.

Geothermal Inventory Potential of Niğde  

Solar Energy

Sun indirectly constitutes the basis of all energy sources we use. Global warming and rises in oil prices have rapidly increased the demand for alternative energy sources, especially solar energy. Our country is receiving far more long-term sun rays than many European countries due to its location.

Turkey has a potential of 380 billion kilowatt hours of solar energy annually. The annual solar energy per square meter is 1,303 kWh and the average annual sun shining duration is 2,640 hours. These data correspond to a power of 3.6 kWh per square meter per day and approximately 7.2 hours of sunshine. The highest annual average global radiation value among the provinces in the region belongs to the province of Niğde with 1,620 kWh/m²-year. The average daily global radiation value of Niğde province is 4.44 KWh/m²-day, and the average daily sunshine duration is 8.03 hours.

Evaluation of Eligibility of Niğde and Bor District for Solar Energy Investments  

Niğde province is one of the leading regions of our country in terms of its current status and potential in the solar industry.

It is suitable for solar farm investments due to reasons such as high solar radiation values, the presence of lands having the characteristics of weak pasture but suitable for the production of photovoltaic energy.

There are many companies claiming to operate in the solar energy industry.

The majority of solar power generation investments in the world:

Having high sunshine potential,
Low alternative costs,
Located on wide and flat lands,
And consists mainly of PV lands.

Considering these conditions, Bor District of Niğde Province is one of the most suitable regions of our country for the establishment of solar power generation facilities, in many respects, especially in terms of sun shine potential and the presence of lands suitable for photovoltaic investments but not for agriculture-pasturing.

The solar energy potential of our country generally increases as going down to the southern regions and very significant amounts of solar radiation as 2,000 kWh / m2-year can be acquired. This figure is about twice as much compared to Germany's highest sun shine areas. Regions with the highest solar radiation; Muğla, Burdur, Antalya, Konya (South), Karaman, İçel (North), Niğde, Kayseri, K.Maraş, Malatya, Adıyaman, Elazığ, Bingöl, Muş, Bitlis, Van regions. Among these regions, the provinces with the largest land areas and least mountainous areas are undoubtedly the provinces of Niğde, Konya and Karaman. The region where the radiation amount is concentrated the most is Niğde, Konya-Karaman region, and Antalya and Van regions.

In terms of earthquake risk, the region is located in the 4th Degree earthquake zone and is considered as one of the least risk-bearing regions of our country in terms of earthquake. Considering the precipitation conditions of the Niğde region, according to the averages of many years, it is 643.9 kg/m2 annually throughout Turkey and 330 kg/m2 annually in Niğde. Parameters Considered for Solar Energy Investments and Their Values in Bor.

"Feasibility Study Report for the Announcement of Niğde Province Bor District Energy Specialized Industrial Zone" was prepared by Ahiler Development Agency in 2015. Within the scope of the relevant studies, a total area of ​​2,539 hectares within the borders of Emen, Seslikaya and Badak Villages of Bor District was declared in the Official Gazette as Energy Specialized Industrial Zone on 19 November 2015. In addition, the relevant region was declared as a Renewable Energy Resource Area (YEKA) on 29 September 2018. The current situation and potential of our city in the field of renewable energy is also included in the report https://www.ahika.gov.tr/assets/upload/dosyalar/ahika_2015_nigde-bor-enerji-ihtisas-endustri-bolgesi-ilanina-yonelik-fizibilite-raporu.pdf has been given.

In addition, there is a potential to establish a Biomass Power Plant (BES) facility in Niğde province by converting the biogas potential that can be obtained from animal waste into electrical energy, and the work of entrepreneurs in this field continues.