Turkish Solar Energy Industry Association (GENSED) and the Energy Investors Association (GUYAD) teamed up to send approximately 12,000 solar panels to quake-hit regions in southern Türkiye.
General Secretary of GENSED, Hakan Erkan, told Anadolu that the two renewable energy associations and their member companies have drawn up a list of equipment needed, including solar panels, inverters and batteries, for installation on the ground or on roofs in the earthquake zone.
The first delivery of 4,000 panels are planned to be sent in advance to meet the electricity needs of 1,000 containers to be used to provide temporary shelter for earthquake victims.
Four panels will be used for each shelter to generate power for lighting, partial heating, telephone chargers and A+ refrigerators.
Erkan explained that the goal is to provide sustainable power on a temporary basis using 3–4 kilowatt inverters and batteries for every three to four panels.
'We think it will also help with heating when the sun is out,' he added.
'Solar panels and equipment can be easily installed, but the first installation will be done free of charge by technical personnel working in the companies within GENSED and GUYAD,' he said.
Erkan said they are prepared to send more solar panel systems to the area given the calls from NGO's on the ground for them to meet the electricity needs in the earthquake zone.
The magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 tremors were centered in Kahramanmaras and struck nine other provinces – Hatay, Gaziantep, Adiyaman, Malatya, Adana, Diyarbakir, Kilis, Osmaniye and Sanliurfa, leaving a trail of destruction.
So far, over 35,000 people have died, tens of thousands have been injured, and more than 13 million people have been affected by the devastating quakes.
By Gulsen Cagatay and Gokce Topbas
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr