Press Conference: Clean Energy Sector Supplier Development Program
The BEST For Energy Project, which aims to transform İzmir and its surroundings into a region specialized in clean energy and clean technologies, is coming to life. The project, implemented by the İzmir Development Agency (İZKA) in partnership with the Energy Industrialists and Businessmen Association (ENSİA), will continue until 2023. The project takes place within the Competitive Sectors Programme, financed by the European Union and the Republic of Turkey and run by the Ministry of Industry and Technology.
The "Clean Energy Sector Supplier Development Program" introductory meeting was held online due to the pandemic conditions. İzmir Development Agency (İZKA) Secretary-General Dr. Mehmet Yavuz, Energy Industrialists and Businessmen Association (ENSİA) Chairman of the Board Alper Kalaycı, Project Team Leader Ekin Taşkın, TPI Composites EMEA Region Vice President Gökhan Serdar, LM Wind Power Factory Director Emre Kahya, Ateş Wind Power Co-Founder Mahmut Güldoğan, Kontek Executive Chairman of the Board Tolga Murat Özdemir and members of the press attended.
It was stated that the "Clean Energy Sector Supplier Development Program," which includes essential opportunities for companies operating or aiming to operate in the Clean Energy and Clean Technology Sector, will be implemented for the next two years. The Program consists of BEST For Energy Project Services for companies; It was underlined that there are many free services such as Needs Analysis, Capability Matrix, Advisory, and Training Program, B2B Meeting and Technical Visits, and Portal.
‘’CAPITAL OF CLEAN ENERGY: İZMİR’’
Speaking at the opening of the meeting, ENSİA Chairman of the Board Alper Kalaycı said that energy and equipment should be domestic. Kalaycı said, “We want every company that manufactures in Turkey to participate in the supply chain of clean energy equipment. With this aspect, BEST For Energy is a project that entirely coincides with the founding vision of ENSİA.” Emphasizing that Turkey has written a success story in clean energy production in the last 15 years that has attracted the whole world's attention, President Alper Kalaycı underlined that İzmir has successfully achieved the title of "The Capital of Clean Energy" at this point. President Alper Kalaycı stated that the fact that all four factories producing wind turbine blades in Turkey are producing in İzmir is an indicator of this, and made the following assessment:
“İZMİR IS THE LEADER”
“Our country, which has increased its wind energy installed power by 182 times in the last 15 years, to 9,305 Megawatts (MW), ranks 7th in Europe with this great success. İzmir, on the other hand, maintains the title of "Turkey's Wind Energy Capital" with an installed power of 1,798 MW. The Aegean Region, which includes İzmir, stands out as the region where the highest RES investment is made in our country, with an installed power of 3,511 MW. For us, the fact that our energy is domestic and clean is not enough on its own. So we emphasize that the equipment that produces that point should also be local. Likewise, every company invested in our country provides employment, pays taxes, exports, and provides added value; we call it 'local' regardless of the source of capital. By the wind, İzmir should be an equipment production center for clean energy sources such as solar, biomass, geothermal, and wave. That's why we attach great importance to the BEST For Energy Project."
“İZMİR SPECIALIZES IN CLEAN ENERGY”
IZKA Secretary-General Dr. Mehmet Yavuz, on the other hand, stated that as İzmir Development Agency, they are working to produce information and develop pioneering, original, and exemplary projects for İzmir. Indicating that İzmir has superiority in clean energy and clean technologies due to their research and analysis in this context; Yavuz said, "We are carrying out many studies to use this advantage as a tool in İzmir's sustainable development. Under the leadership of İzmir, we aim to transform the clean energy and clean technology sector in Turkey into an industry that creates added value with competitive and innovative products and generates more employment with new green jobs.”
“IT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE GREEN RECONCILIATION”
Noting that the BEST For Energy Project will be an essential step in achieving the determined targets, Secretary-General Yavuz said, “We see the BEST For Energy Project as a regional development project based on clustering and intelligent specialization. We aim to make İzmir and its surroundings a region specializing in clean energy and clean technologies and producing added value for the whole world in this field. Our agency's future activities and financial support mechanisms will be determined according to the strategies and action plans developed within the scope of the BEST For Energy Project. We believe that the BEST For Energy Project will be one of the essential activities that will contribute to the European Green Consensus from Turkey and İzmir.”
“INTERVIEWING WITH INVESTORS FROM 4 COUNTRIES”
İZKA Secretary-General Yavuz stated that the BEST For Energy Project offers significant benefits for SMEs in the sector and large-scale companies and decision-makers who determine sectoral policies. And, he added that “We intensified our work in clean energy with our Investment Support Office. We are talking with companies from 4 countries, such as Spain and China, to invest in İzmir. We are promoting the clean energy potential of İzmir abroad, and we are attracting high interest. With the projects we will do, foreign investors in İzmir will also show interest in our project.’’ Noting that the Clean Energy and Clean Technology Sector Capability Matrix is planned to be one of the essential contributions of the project, Yavuz also said:
“TO CONTRIBUTE TO EXPORT AND INVESTMENT”
“With the project, the capabilities of all companies that produce equipment and provide services in the field of wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass will be seen in a single table. The talent inventory will show which of the supplies needed by large-scale international companies can be obtained from Turkey. It will also be a guide for the investments that the sector will make in Turkey. It will become one of the crucial resources that decision-makers will benefit from when creating national and regional policies related to the sector. Within BEST For Energy Project, many studies such as Value Chain and Competitiveness Analysis of the Sector, Needs Analysis of Firms, National and International Demand Analysis will be carried out as well as Capability Matrix.”
İZMİR'S SUCCESS WILL BE ENRICHED WITH THE PROJECT
Ateş Wind Power Co-Founder Mahmut Güldoğan noted that they direct both their time and concentration towards green energy as a company. TPI Composites EMEA Region Vice President Gökhan Serdar noted that climate change and clean energy had become an essential plan due to the pandemic. Serdar said, “Clean energy is at the top of almost all the lists of the future sectors. At this point, I think we have a great opportunity as a country, as İzmir. I believe that İzmir, the capital of clean energy and wind with its current production capacity and industry, should take advantage of this opportunity. First of all, İzmir has the environment and resources to achieve this, but above all, it has human resources. In this context, any attempt to develop the industry and suppliers for the clean energy sector is precious, so I find the BEST For Energy project very meaningful.”
"WE CAN TAKE PART IN GLOBAL MARKETS"
LM Wind Power Factory Director Emre Kahya stated that the BEST For Energy project excites international companies and themselves and indicated that İzmir could become one of the substantial firms in the market with its potential. KAHYA said, “The USA and China can no longer keep up with the demands. We can take advantage of this synergy in İzmir and open Turkey to global markets. In terms of qualified workforce, if we train our middle and high school youth and direct them to the clean energy sector, we will not have any problems in the future.”
“İZMİR CAN ALSO RANGE IN ENERGY STORAGE”
Kontek Chief Executive Officer, Tolga Murat Özdemir, on the other hand, stated that equipment such as wings and towers used in wind energy was made in İzmir. Still, solar energy will gain much more importance in the future. Özdemir said, “Battery technologies play an essential role in clean energy. Studies in this area will bring new synergy to İzmir and its region, and it will be possible to apply production technologies from e-mobility to storage in our city. We believe that with the increase in domestic production capacity, the problem of our foreign dependency will end. In addition, it will support non-international companies like us that make significant investments and research in energy to increase their capacity with projects such as BEST For Energy.”
HOW WILL COMPANIES BENEFIT?
Companies that want to benefit from free services should take 10 minutes to fill out the Quick Business Diagnostic called CLEANHIT on the www.bestforenergy.org website. The company that fills out CLEANHIT will have pre-registered and expressed its desire to benefit from the services.
While determining the suitable companies, having benefited from the previous services of the project will be an essential selection criterion. While deciding the eligible companies, having benefited from the earlier services of the project will be a significant selection criterion.