The use of biomass energy in Turkey听should be increased as it can provide independence from fossil fuels, according to Tanay Sidki Uyar, president of the听Bioenergy Association of Turkey, on Tuesday.
Renewable energy is vast but one downside is that it is not a constant source of energy, Uyar told Anadolu Agency.听
"The sun's energy can be utilized during the day time and wind will blow听sporadically,听but biomass is more reliable as it can act as an energy storage facility,"听he added.
Biomass, any organic material which has stored sunlight in the form of chemical energy, will allow the sun's energy to be used for heating or electricity even during the night time, he elaborated.
"With听this听feature, there is no need for coal, natural gas or oil," he argued.
As a fuel source, biomass may include听wood, wood waste,听straw,听manure,听sugarcane, and many other byproducts from a variety of agricultural processes.
Turkey aims to raise the capacity of biomass to 1,000 megawatts, from over 300 megawatts, by 2023, under the country's national renewable goals.
However, Uyar says the target level is unambitious as the country has the capacity to reach 5,000 megawatts by the same year.
"The country should utilize biomass energy even more, the potential and infrastructure is available," he said and added that听"a target of increasing its share within electricity generation to 30 percent," would be more acceptable.
- 100 percent renewables a possibility
Uyar highlighted renewable energy's abundance and said there is no听scarcity of听source.
"The share of hydroelectricity is already great; it should not be included in Turkey's 2023 renewable goals. The country has the potential to reach the target without hydroelectricity," he stressed.
Turkey aims to raise renewable energy's share within energy usage to 30 percent.
"Renewable energy technology is currently cheap,听affordable and听found in听vast amounts, which is why fossil fuel prices are falling," Uyar said.听
Turkey is mostly reliant on energy imports for its demand.
听"Renewable energy听has all the necessary qualities to be a solution to the supply demand," he argued.
"Turkey听can switch to a听100 percent renewable energy country, with efficient energy use听while also decreasing energy use by 50 percent," he said.
Efficiency in energy use will lower energy demand and lessen the supply problem's scope, Uyar added.
Uyar urged organizations, academicians and students to attend the IRENEC 2016 conference on听May听26-28 in Istanbul, where they will discuss the possibility of a 100 percent renewable future for Turkey.
By Zeynep Beyza Kilic
Anadolu Agency
zeynep.karabay@aa.com.tr
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