In this episode of the podcast, Enerjisa Üretim CEO İhsan Erbil Bayçöl outlines the company's strategy and Türkiye's ongoing progress in renewable energy. As a major energy producer in Türkiye, Enerjisa Üretim is making significant strides in diversifying its portfolio, integrating digital technologies, and pursuing sustainability goals. He also highlights key aspects of the company's role in shaping Türkiye's energy future.
Enerjisa Üretim operates 27 power plants that utilize five different energy technologies: wind, hydro, gas-fired, solar, and indigenous coal. This diversity allows the company to supply 4-5 percent of Türkiye's electricity, making it resilient to market fluctuations and environmental uncertainties. Bayçöl emphasizes that this diversified portfolio helps balance the supply-demand challenge, as energy production has limited storage capabilities. Although renewable sources like wind and solar are essential, they are intermittent; Enerjisa Üretim supplements these with gas and hydro plants to ensure stability when renewable energy is not consistently available.
Enerjisa Üretim is leading the digital transformation within the energy sector. Bayçöl highlights that the company is more than just a power producer; it is a technology-driven organization. With a network of meteorological stations across Türkiye, Enerjisa Üretim uses real-time data to optimize its energy production. This digital focus enables the company to adapt to changing market conditions and enhances operational efficiency.
As Türkiye targets reducing carbon emissions by 2053, Enerjisa Üretim aligns its strategy accordingly. The company is actively expanding its renewable energy investments, including the development of 1,000 megawatts of wind energy, known as YEKA-2, and plans for an additional 500 megawatts of solar power. Moreover, Enerjisa collaborates with local communities to ensure its projects benefit both the company and the public. This effort is part of a larger shift from traditional energy sources, such as coal and gas, toward a renewable-focused future.
Türkiye's energy demand has doubled every decade, driven by population growth and increasing technological advancements. Bayçöl is optimistic about Türkiye's untapped wind and solar potential, noting that technological advances make renewable projects more cost-effective. He also discusses Türkiye's potential as a player in the hydrogen market, although the hydrogen value chain is still under development. While Europe leads the hydrogen conversation, Türkiye's abundant renewable resources position it well to become a future exporter of green hydrogen.
FDI plays a crucial role in Türkiye's energy sector. The Turkish government's Foreign Direct Investment Strategy for 2024-2028 aims to attract sustainable, high-quality investments. Bayçöl highlights the importance of a stable regulatory framework to encourage international investors. Enerjisa Üretim, a joint venture between Sabancı Holding and European utility company E.ON, is on track to secure USD 1 billion in financing for renewable projects, demonstrating international confidence in Türkiye's energy market.
Enerjisa Üretim is central to Türkiye's ongoing transition to renewable energy through diversification, technological innovation, and sustainability. As Türkiye continues to grow and embrace renewable energy, companies like Enerjisa Üretim will be key to shaping the country's energy future. With significant investments in wind, solar, and hydrogen, Türkiye is set to become a leader in the global green energy landscape.
Bayçöl also proudly shares that one of Enerjisa Üretim's new power plants, which will be opening soon, will be run and operated entirely by women, from technicians to managers.