The “Super Permit” Era in Renewable Energy
A “super permit” is being developed to clear the way for energy investments. Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) Chairman Yılmaz said, “This will increase investment, and the energy sector will become the shining star of the Century of Türkiye”
While Türkiye is carrying out groundbreaking work in renewable energy within the framework of the National Energy and Mining Policy, it will also introduce a “Super Permit Mechanism” so that capacity allocations can be converted into investment more quickly. Mustafa Yılmaz, Chairman of the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK), noted that work is under way to set up a “Super Permit Mechanism” so that licences granted in renewable energy translate into projects on the ground more quickly, and said: “Our Ministry of Energy, in cooperation with the relevant institutions, is working on a super permit that will shorten permitting processes and pave the way for more investment to reach the field in a shorter time.”
INVESTMENTS WILL SPEED UP
In an assessment given to SABAH, EPDK Chairman Yılmaz explained that the total of all unlicensed and licensed solar and wind power plant projects today is around 86,300 megawatts. Yılmaz said: “This is a figure higher than the installed capacity of many countries in Europe. Part of our 31,800 megawatts of solar and wind pre-licences with storage has already reached the field, and work on the remainder continues. We have 14,700 megawatts of wind power plant (WPP) licences and 1,600 megawatts of solar power plant (SPP) licences in operation. These continue to contribute to our country’s energy supply. In addition, procedures for 6,720 megawatts of licensed SPPs and WPPs are under way.” Noting that, as in every sector, it takes a certain amount of time for investments to materialise in the energy sector, Yılmaz went on to say: “With wind investments, you have to take many sensitivities into account, such as expropriation and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes. But in Europe, in Germany for example, permitting processes for these investments take 7 to 7.5 years, whereas in our country they are completed within 3 years. As an institution, we grant as many licences as possible so that as many investments as possible reach the field. Our Ministry is currently working, in cooperation with the relevant institutions, on a super permit that will shorten permitting processes and pave the way for more investment to reach the field in a shorter time.” Yılmaz said he believes that within 5 to 10 years Türkiye will become Europe’s equipment manufacturing hub in renewable energy.