Geothermal power in Turkey could be greatly expanded if the problem of its carbon-dioxide emissions can be solved. Geothermal power in Turkey began in the 1970s in a prototype plant following systematic exploration of geothermal fields. In the 1980s, a first power plant has grown up out of the pilot facility.Turkey is ranked seventh richest country in the world in geothermal potential. The small-sized geothermal power plant was expanded to the country's biggest one in 2013. Currently, two power plants operate in Turkey. Its theoretical geothermal potential is 60GW and potential is 4.5GW As well as the electricity sector in Turkey, geothermal heat is used directly. As of 2018 Turkey has 1,350 MW installed capacity, the fourth largest in the world after the United States, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Geology
The high geothermal potential is due to geology such as the Western Anatolian Graben systems. However "many of Turkey’s existing geothermal plants are situated on reservoirs where the carbon content of non-condensable gases in the geothermal fluids are high", therefore care must be taken to avoid excessive carbon emissions.
Carbon-dioxide emissions
The CO2 emissions from new geothermal plants in Turkey are some of the highest in the world, ranging from 900 to 1300 g/kWh but gradually decline: lifecycle emissions are still being researched as of 2019.
History
In 1965, the state-owned Turkish Mineral Research and Exploration Co. began with the first geological and geophysical surveys in southwestern Turkey. The Kızıldere geothermal reservoir, a field on the western branch of Büyük Menderes Graben, was discovered in 1968 as a geothermal field suitable for electricity generation. The first power plant was built as a prototype facility in 1974 with 500 kW installed capacity. The generated electricity was distributed to the households in the vicinity free of charge. The state-owned Elektrik Üretim A.Ş. enlarged the installed capacity up to 17.4 MW in 1984. However, the average actual power was around 10 MW. In 2008, the power plant was transferred to Zorlu Energy in the frame of privatization. Zorlu Energy obtained the right of operating lease for 30 years, and increased the capacity from 6 MW to 15 within a short time. The company invested US$250 million to expand the facility. In December 2013, the Kızıldere Geothermal Power Plant reached an installed capacity of 95 MW making it Turkey's biggest. As of 2005, Turkey had the 5th highest direct usage and capacity of geothermal energy in the world. Turkey's capacity as of 2005 is 1,495 MWt with a usage of 24,839.9 TJ/year or 6,900.5 GWh/year at a capacity factor of 0.53. Most of this is in the form of direct-use heating however geothermal electricity is currently produced at the Kizildere plant in the province of Denizli producing 120,000 tons of liquid carbon dioxide and dry ice. As of 2006 and 2010, there were two plants generating 8.5 and 11.5 MWe respectively, in Aydın. The direct-use heating has been mostly district heating serving 103,000 residences. There is also individual space heating ; 800,000 m2 of heated greenhouses ; and 215 balneological facilities, 54 spas, bathing and swimming pools. It is stated that at least 1.5 million houses, currently heated by natural gas, can switch to being heated by thermal waters. As of 2005, 170 future geothermal prospects had been identified with 95% in the low-to medium enthalpy range suitable for direct-use applications. In 2010 the installed geothermal electricity generation capacity was 100 MWe while direct use installations were approximately 795 MWt. Turkey reaches milestone 1,100 MW of installed geothermal power generation capacity in December 2017. Turkey is fourth largest in the world in 2018 when it comes to installed capacity after United States
