Storage Integrated SPP/WPP Projects are becoming more and more popular as environmentally friendly and sustainable energy sources. However, these renewable energy sources b energy storage capacities are limited. This makes it difficult to ensure consistency between energy supply and demand due to the fluctuation of solar and wind power generation. To overcome this problem, the use of Storage Solar Power Plants (SPP) and Wind Power Plants (WPP) is becoming widespread.
Storage Integrated SPP/WPP projects with storage allow the energy obtained from renewable energy sources to be stored and reused when desired. These projects include solar or wind power plants along with energy storage capacity. While the storage balances the energy supply, especially during peak hours of energy demand, it allows the energy obtained from renewable energy sources to be provided uninterruptedly. This provides a higher energy efficiency and greater reliability to sustainable energy sources.
Storage Integrated SPP/WPP projects can include many different technologies. Among them; Technologies such as chemical, mechanical (battery storage, hydroelectric pumped storage, gravity), thermal storage and hydrogen storage are included. Storage technology is selected according to the physical characteristics of the project, its geographical location and energy storage requirements.
Battery storage is one of the most widely used storage technologies. Battery technology uses various types of batteries to store energy, such as lithium-ion batteries, sodium sulfur batteries, zinc air batteries, and lead acid batteries. These batteries store the energy obtained from solar or wind power plants and can be reused when energy is needed.
Today, energy storage technologies continue to develop and the integration of solar power plants with energy storage systems will be increasingly preferred.
With its first regulation in 2020, EMRA allowed existing licensees to encourage the establishment of storage facilities in existing wind power and hydroelectric power plants. With this regulation, it is aimed to provide a more sustainable energy production by encouraging the establishment of storage facilities for existing wind energy and hydroelectric power plants.
In addition, with the legal regulations made by EMRA in 2021, electricity obtained from renewable energy sources can be stored in storage facilities. With this regulation, an important step has been taken for the development of Storage Integtrated SPP/WPP projects in Turkey.
“According to the Presidential Decision published in the Official Gazette dated May 1, 2023 and numbered 32177, the prices and periods to be applied for electricity generation facilities based on renewable energy sources with RES Certificate, which will be put into operation from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2030, and regarding the updating of prices. It has been decided to put the attached Decision into effect in accordance with Articles 6 and 6/B of the Law No. 5346 on the Use of Renewable Energy Resources for Electricity Generation.”
The base price of Feed-In Tariff (FIT) is $5.85-cent/kWh, the ceiling price of YEKDEM is $7.15-cent/kWh, and the Feed-In Tariff (FIT) price implementation period is 10 years for electricity storage facilities integrated with a wind or solar power generation facility. In addition, the implementation period of the local contribution price for these facilities has been determined as 10 years.
According to the decision taken, for electricity generation facilities based on renewable energy sources with RES Certificate, which will be put into operation from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2030, the prices in Annex-1 of the legislation will be applied for the periods specified against them. In addition, the determined prices will be updated according to the method specified in Annex-2 of the legislation.
However, it has been stated that no retroactive price difference will be paid within the scope of this Decision for RES Certified Production facilities that have been put into operation between the date of 1 July 2021 and the publication date of this Decision and benefiting from the RES Support Mechanism.
In addition, in the relevant Decision, the procedures and principles regarding the implementation of the domestic contribution prices included in Annex-1 of the legislation for the Storage Integrated GES/RES Project facilities that will/will be put into operation from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2030 will be regulated by the regulation issued by the Ministry.
All these steps provide an important opportunity for the development and promotion of Storage Integrated SPP/WPP projects in Turkey. EMRA’s regulations in this direction contribute to the more widespread and sustainable use of renewable energy resources.
