Greece is transforming its coal land into industrial hubs with cutting-edge technologies, with the focus remaining on energy – mostly solar power plants. Their capacity is among the highest in the world. Other countries in Southeastern Europe are advancing slowly in such decarbonization projects or are still in the planning stage. Turkey announced that it intends to speed up the construction of photovoltaic units on sites of former coal mining operations.
Turkish Coal Enterprises (TKI) is revitalizing the areas of depleted open-pit mines also through afforestation, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources said. The company planted just over 12 million trees on 6,265 hectares last year.
With photovoltaic projects, such areas are contributing to the country’s economy again. The state-owned company’s Aegean region subsidiary ELI operates a self-consumption unit of 5 MW in Manisa. Another firm, ÇLI, based in Çanakkale, further to the north, has installed a 5 MW solar park.
The two facilities generate 18 GWh of electricity per year, supplying businesses, the update adds.
Preparations are underway for the construction of a 5 MW photovoltaic plant in the Tavşanlı district of Kütahya province in Turkey’s west. Another project is for 9 MW in the Afşin district in Kahramanmaraş, in the Mediterranean region in the country’s south. The company plans to complete them next year.
The four solar parks will produce some 41 GWh per year, according to the ministry.
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