QAZAQ GREEN.  Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, İbrahim Yumaklı, during a visit to Elazığ to engage in various programs and inspections, examined Turkey's premier floating solar power plant, situated at the Keban Dam in the Beşevler hamlet of Fatmalı village in the heart of the region, Railly News reports.

Minister Yumaklı emphasized, "The solar energy system constructed on the water reservoir represents clean energy, boasting a 10 percent higher efficiency compared to land-based energy systems. Naturally, the construction of these reservoirs will adhere to specific planning guidelines. The implementation of solar energy systems will also alleviate the pressure on land space requirements," he stated.

Following his inspections, Minister Yumaklı addressed the press, underscoring their visits to various provinces and highlighting Elazığ's significance in agricultural production.

Pointing out the significance of the Keban Dam in Elazığ for electricity generation and irrigation, Yumaklı affirmed their commitment to advancing projects aimed at promoting irrigation initiatives nationwide. He remarked, "Given the terrain of our current location, irrigation projects necessitate a pumping system powered by energy due to the elevation differences between the dam-irrigated areas. This incurs an additional cost of approximately 40 percent. Our colleagues have initiated an R&D study on this matter. Solar energy system installations on water reservoirs have been undertaken on a small scale in Turkey on several occasions before. However, they are not yet capable of supplying electricity to the system. Through R&D efforts, the area we are in has been rendered capable of supplying electricity to the system. By providing 1 megawatt of electricity to the system, the 2 megawatt solar energy system on land has been integrated, now supplying energy for roughly half of the irrigation needs in this area."

Regarding the system's significance, Yumaklı reiterated, "The solar energy system constructed on the water reservoir represents clean energy, with a 10 percent higher efficiency compared to land-based energy systems. Naturally, the construction of these reservoirs will adhere to specific planning guidelines. The implementation of solar energy systems will also alleviate the pressure on land space requirements."

Minister Yumaklı affirmed their collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources to disseminate this information nationwide.

"Undoubtedly, all water reservoirs, dams, and ponds in Turkey, excluding those for drinking water, must maintain a certain level. Utilizing even 10 percent of these resources has the potential to meet 4/1 of Turkey's annual electricity needs. However, this remains a theoretical prospect," he noted. Yumaklı pledged to continue efforts to develop this, drawing inspiration from successful practical examples.

In concluding his remarks, Minister Yumaklı stated, "We will fulfill all energy needs with an additional 3 megawatt installation, particularly for the Kuzova pumped irrigation. Moving forward, we will further develop this project, especially considering the implications of climate change and the substantial contribution this system will make to water evaporation. Especially after reaching a certain stage, all irrigation systems we implement will be closed systems. Naturally, we aim to boost our production by enhancing water's contribution to agricultural productivity. However, if there is a demand for electrical energy due to elevation disparities, as seen in these regions, we hope to prioritize irrigation projects in the future alongside these initiatives. I extend my best wishes to Elazığ, where the pilot implementation of this significant project took place, and to our entire nation."