Image: wikipedia

Turkey’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources has confirmed that it received 77 applications from 38 companies for eight solar power projects in the latest round of its Renewable Energy Resource Zone (YEKA) procurement program.

The tender was initially announced as an 850 MW solar auction across nine sites, but one project was later cancelled. The final tender proceeded with a total capacity of 650 MW across eight locations. The ceiling price remained set at €0.055 ($0.065)/kWh, with a base price of €0.0325/kWh.

According to the ministry’s update:

· Bolu (50 MW) received 6 applications

· Van (40 MW) received 8 applications

· Erzurum-1 GES (100 MW) received 9 applications

· Erzurum-3 GES (85 MW) received 5 applications

· Eskişehir (260 MW)—the largest project—received 4 applications

· Kahramanmaraş (40 MW) received the highest number with 19 applications

· Mardin (40 MW) received 15 applications

The tender also includes Turkey’s first floating solar power plant, enabled by last year’s amendments to the Coastal Laws governing renewable energy developments on seas, dam lakes, artificial lakes, and natural lakes. The 35 MW Demirköprü floating solar project, planned to be co-located with an existing hydroelectric plant, received 11 applications.

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar noted that the bids include interest from international investors.

Winners for each of the solar projects are expected to be announced before the end of the year. Successful bidders will be allowed to sell electricity on the free market for 60 months from the contract signing date. Following this period, they will enter a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) based on the tender price.

This marks the second YEKA auction of 2024, following the January–February round that allocated 800 MW of solar and 1,200 MW of wind. The current auction also includes a 1,150 MW wind tender, with applicants set to be announced on December 2.