About half of Turkey’s coal mines could be converted into solar energy system capable of generating enough renewable energy to meet the needs of nearly 7 million homes a year, Daily Sabah reported.
The Solar Potential of Turkish Coal Fields report released yesterday analyzed the performance of 22 open-pit coal mines providing 10,495 MW of coal from the total installed capacity of coal-fired power plants in Turkey.
The information is published as part of the search by European countries for ways to quickly increase the capacity of renewable energy sources, including in the context of the situation in Ukraine and rising prices for fossil fuels.
The report was prepared by Solar3GW Turkish think tank for Coalless Europe, Climate Action Network Europe, Greenpeace Regional Office, WWF Turkey, Climate Change Policy and Research Association, 350 international environmental NGO, Turkish environmental associations Ekosfer and Yuva.
The report indicates that solar panels with a total capacity of 13,189 MW can be installed in these coal mines. The potential ability of solar energy generated from the country’s coal pits corresponds to a nearly 170 percent increase in current installed capacity.
With a potential capacity of 19,079 GWh of open-pit solar panels, this could meet the electricity needs of nearly 7 million homes. In addition, it is estimated that the conversion of half of Turkey’s coal pits will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 12.4 million tons per year.