Bai-Tushum Bank and KyrSEFF facility study energy saving experience in Turkey

From March 15 to March 20, 2015 Bai-Tushum Bank employees and KyrSEFF team together with the members of facility’s other partner banks (KICB, Demirbank, FINCA) have been studying the energy saving experience of the Republic of Turkey, which has successfully implemented the similar TurSEFF facility since 2010.

Energy efficiency enhancement is crucial for the Republic of Turkey. Regardless of the shortage of its own resources, Turkey possesses a large capacity to develop alternative environmentally friendly energy industry. It should be noted that the development and promotion of renewable energy sources is supported at the national level through economic and legislative initiatives, such as the establishment of specialized rates. The state procures power from enterprises that produce it using renewable energy sources at the prices advantageous for such producers. That is why the number of wind and solar power plants grows and biofuel and geothermal energy projects are introduced. KyrSEFF facility representatives and partner banks had a chance to observe it during their visit to a number of industrial facilities, greenhouses, biogas and solar photovoltaic power plans.

Over the past years many Turkish manufacturers shifted to the production of advanced energy efficient technologies. Such companies, as Ode and CSun that specialize in the manufacturing of heat insulation materials and solar panels entered the global market. During production process, enterprises adhere to energy saving policy, so with the support of TurSEFF Ode company installed cogeneration unit that produces electric power and heat by consuming natural gas, thus covering 70% of company’s needs and roughly the same amount of required heat energy.

Given that the main electric power consumers are industrial facilities, the state allocated special industrial zones for them. Our delegation from Kyrgyzstan visited one of such zones called Gebze Guzeller. The enterprises located there are provided with most favorable conditions for their development, documents processing procedure is streamlined for them, there are energy rates incentives. On Gebze Guzeller territory there is a solar photovoltaic power plant with the capacity of 500 kW (it was funded though TurSEFF). The energy produced goes to power lines. This facility is a perfect example of money generating solar energy.

Great attention within TurSEFF is given to the enhancement of energy efficiency and energy saving at waste treatment facilities. Such projects contemplate the use of RESs and getting heat and electric power from water capacity for the needs of companies and for sale. The experience of Turkish commercial sector in the promotion of energy efficiency projects proved to be very helpful. Vakifbank as a TurSEFF facility partner promotes RES projects in its interactions with clients and offers the best energy efficiency standards. Vakifbank established strong relations with vendors of energy saving technology, which provide loans to population in the form of energy saving equipment with the credit support of TurSEFF. Such flexible funding scheme ensures the broadest access to the implementation of energy efficiency projects, which is another indicator of commercial and private sectors’ commitment to energy saving. During the meeting with the colleagues from Vakifbank, the representatives of KyrSEFF partner banks have discussed the efficient funding of energy saving projects and on their return they intend to expand the range of financial services offered for energy saving. Therewith, emphasis will be given to the support of RES projects and relations with the vendors of energy efficient materials and services.

Thus, the energy efficient experience of Turkey demonstrates the efficient advocacy of energy care culture. In cities and villages one can see many houses with solar collectors installed on roofs. Everywhere one can notice the tiny but nonetheless important details of energy saving behaviors practiced by regular citizens and businessmen. Hybrid cars with low CO2 emission prevail on roads, centralized card systems for turning off power supply are in place in hotels etc. We can use the successful experience of amicable Turkish people and start introducing energy saving principles in our everyday life.