The launch ceremony of the National Solar Power Plant Technology (MİLGES), National Hydroelectric Power Plant Technology (MİLHES), High Voltage Direct Current Technology (YGDA) and National Turbine Blade Technology (MİLKANAT) projects was held with the participation of Fikri Işık, Minister of Science, Industry and Technology, Taner Yıldız, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Çelik, Deputy President of TÜBİTAK, and executives of the institutions.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Taner Yıldız, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, emphasized that all of Turkey's domestic resources and renewable energy sources should be opened up very quickly and that the energy sector should grow faster than the country's economic growth figures.

"We will produce with our national resources"

Stating that while supporting domestic resources and domestic production, attention should be paid to investment expenditures that will have a negative impact on the current account deficit, Minister Yıldız said: "In Turkey, we invest approximately 12 billion dollars a year in production, distribution and all equipment, sometimes 12 billion dollars, sometimes 8-9 billion dollars. If we have created this market and such a demand, the supply must be formed with our national resources."

Stating that production can be made even above the cost of imports if necessary for the development of domestic production, Yıldız said, "If domestic production is necessary, if it is necessary to take a national stance, it is not only the Ministries of Energy and Industry that owe this. Academics, intellectuals, the private sector and industrialists." Referring to the issue of nuclear energy, Yıldız said the following:

"Construction of the 3rd Nuclear Power Plant Will Be Completely Domestic Production"

"We have deliberately stopped the current market for the 3rd nuclear power plants in order to ensure that they can be built together with our local engineers and production. Eight units will be built until approximately 2025-26. Approximately 9,600 megawatts of power plants will be commissioned. Meanwhile, the construction of the 3rd nuclear power plant will be based entirely on domestic production. Therefore, we can evaluate the reverse brain drain only when this market is formed. It is not very realistic to say 'come earlier'. ' Right now, Turkish scientists and employees who have been trained in nuclear power plants in different countries around the world, such as the United States and Canada, will hopefully return to Turkey."

In his speech, Fikri Işık, Minister of Science, Industry and Technology, stated that the National Wind Energy Systems Development and Prototype Turbine Production (MİLRES) project has reached the completion stage, and that the national wind power plant will be erected this month and wind energy will start to be produced.

Stating that it will not be enough for Turkey to be a country that only uses technology, Işık said that the only way to exist in the world of the future is to produce technology.

"MİLRES Project is Nearing Completion"

Explaining that apart from MİLGES, MİLHES, YGDA and MİLKANAT projects, they are also developing other projects with the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Işık said: "The MİLRES project has reached the stage of completion, and we will soon, God willing, erect it on the mast. If the national wind power plant, whose capacity can be easily increased up to 1.5 megawatts, is completed, we will erect it on the mast this month and the first national wind turbine will start producing wind energy."

"We are 85 percent dependent on foreign energy"

Noting that Turkey's energy consumption has doubled since 2002, Işık said, "It is clear that we will need twice as much energy in 2023. Unfortunately, we are 85 percent dependent on foreign energy. The main reason for the current account deficit is our energy imports. If Turkey had met its energy needs with its own resources, the country's growth would have been at least 2 percent higher." Işık emphasized that the energy sector is an extremely critical sector not only in terms of production and supply security, but also in terms of minimizing foreign dependency and developing domestic technologies.

Işık stated that TÜBİTAK is the country's most important source of power in terms of domestic and green production. Underlining that whatever is produced on a scale basis must be domestic, innovative and green, Işık pointed out the importance of adopting R&D and innovation as a lifestyle.

Stating that they want TÜBİTAK to become the most important project management institution in Turkey, Işık said that they will also pave the way for the institution to become a strong integrator organization and to carry out R&D together with the market and the private sector.

Recalling that they established an Energy Specialized Industrial Zone in Konya Karapınar in 2012 in order to increase energy production from renewable resources in Turkey, Işık said that they are currently evaluating applications to establish Energy Specialized Industrial Zones in Niğde and Karaman.

"Turkey will be able to stand on its own feet in the electric energy sector"

Bahadır Tunaboylu, President of TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center (MAM), said that a strong cooperation between the public, private sector and universities was achieved with the four projects. Pointing out that the projects, which are of great importance for Turkey to produce its own electrical energy, will also contribute to reducing the current account deficit, Tunaboylu said

"With a project investment of 158 million liras to be carried out within our center and intensive applied R&D studies that will last for 6 years, Turkey will be able to stand on its own feet in the electrical energy sector. In our country, where 3 thousand megawatts of solar power plants are planned to be established with the 2023 vision, it is aimed to contribute 7.5 million liras to the budget with the MİLGES project."

Tunaboylu also stated that university research centers create academic accumulation by actively participating in projects.

Following the speeches, Minister Işık and Minister Yıldız signed the cooperation protocol regarding the energy investments to be made in Karapınar Energy Specialized Zone.