World Bank gives Turkey $350m wind loan

TURKEY: The World Bank has provided the Turkish grid operator with a $350 million loan to be used to integrate more wind capacity into the country's grid.

by Patrick Smith 15 July 2014

Wind projects have proliferated along Turkey's west coast

Teias has been provided with the funds by the World Bank's International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Clean Technology Fund.

Prospects for Turkey's wind energy industry are positive, with up to 1GW expected to come online in 2014. However, there have been concerns that its grid is not properly set up to deal with this explosion in wind energy capacity.

"The project aims to extend and strengthen the electricity transmission network, integrate the wind power investments to the transmission network and support the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity," the Turkish treasury said in a statement.

The loan is secured by the Turkish government.

Last year saw Turkey's largest wind farm, the 143MW Balikesir project, come online. The E.on-developed wind farm in the west of the country is made up of 52 GE 2.75MW turbines.

However, other barriers to greater wind development, beyond the readiness of the grid, still exist. The permitting process is particularly cumbersome and there is still little in the way of government financial support for projects, with most developers choosing to sell their power on the wholesale market.