An innovative technology in the energy sector, which generates electricity by creating artificial wind, could provide Turkey with a much needed alternative to tackle its energy demand problem, Nurettin Aydin, the project's patent holder, told Anadolu Agency on Thursday.
Turkey is growing both in population and in energy demand, which is why the country needs to create new ways of generating electricity in order to meet future demand, Aydin, who works at the general directorate of mining affairs, said.
'The artificial wind project is a clean energy source and can be used to lower the country's dependence on energy rich countries as well as lower its energy import bill,' Aydin added.
He estimates that the artificial wind project, currently at a developmental stage, could also provide Turkey with annual savings of 13 billion Turkish liras ($4.5 billion).
'We know that the project is profitable and can pay for itself in five to six years, but we don't know how profitable it is under which conditions,' he said.
The project utilizes energy sources which are unable to be turned into electricity by current power plants due to their low heat quality, he said, and added that these sources include, low heat geothermal energy, waste steam and hot water from industrial facilities.
- Turkey has opportunity to export technology
'With any new technology, whoever acts first, wins,' Aydin said and added, 'If Turkey acts fast, it can become the technology exporter, otherwise it will have to pay large sums of money in order to import the technology.'
He urged energy companies and the energy ministry to support the project which is still in its early stages but shows great potential benefit for the country.
The project's initial investment is about three million Turkish liras ($1 million), Aydin estimates.
Financial support during the research and development stage from big energy companies or the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey is necessary in order to accelerate the project, Aydin underlined.
Research and development needs to be carried out in order to assess the project's feasibility at different stages, he highlighted.
By Zeynep Beyza Kilic
Anadolu Agency
zeynep.karabay@aa.com.tr