Project at a Glance 

Kalyon Karap?nar Solar Power Plant Overview

Kalyon Karapinar Solar Power Plant is currently the largest solar farm in Europe in terms of area covered. Turkey has long been eyeing for more renewable energy sources. As per the market report, Turkey has rapidly expanded its renewable energy sources by more than 90% in the period from 2010 to 2020. Going forward, it intends to transform itself into an energy exporter rather than an importer with the Kalyon solar project.

Kalyon Karap?nar Solar Power Plant Location

The plant is situated in the Fatih neighborhood, Konya Karapinar Province, Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. The Kalyon Karapinar Solar Power Station has a total area of 4942 acres, which is equal to 2600 football fields. The size of the property, the accessibility of nearby transit, and, most importantly, the amount of sunlight that is available make this an ideal spot for the project.

Background of Kalyon Karap?nar Solar Project

In March 2017, the contract for the Karapinar solar power project was first given to a consortium consisting of Hanwha Q CELLS and Kalyon Enerji. Later, in 2019, China Electronics Technology Corporation (CETC) took over as the new development partner of the solar project, replacing Hanwha Q CELLS in the role. Although the project's development began in December 2019, the facility's initial modules weren't put into service until September 2020.

The 4942-acre Kalyon Karapinar Solar Power Plant Project is one of the most important projects of Kalyon Enerji Yat?r?mlar? A.?. It was developed as a part of the country's renewable energy resource zone (YEKA). Turkey's current leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, inaugurated it in August 2020. 

Track Latest Solar PV Projects in Balkans Region     Discover the Next Big Project!

Tenders and Biddings

At the time of the tendering process, the price per kilowatt had been fixed at 8 cents. In the competitive bidding process of the Karapinar Solar Power Plant Project, four different companies took part. Limak-CMEC-Hareon Solar consortium agreed upon the fixed price whereas, Kalyon-Hanwha Group offered the price of 7.95 cents in the first bid. AKC and Güne? consortium also offered their best price of 7.98 cents per kilowatt. Çal?k Enerji-Solargiga Group submitted an offer of 7.99 cents in the same bid. 

In the 18th round of underbidding, AKC and Güne? consortium again offered a price of 7.05 cents per kilowatt but Kalyon-Hanwha Group took over by offering the lowest price of 6.99 cents per kWh in the 19th round. Later, Hanwa Group decided to pull out of the project. This paved the way for Kalyon Enerji and China Electronics Technology Corporation (CETC) to become the main contractors of the project. 

Kalyon Karap?nar Solar Power Plant Project Details 

The plant incorporates 3.2 million panels and is capable of providing 3 billion kWh of energy output, making it Turkey's largest single source of solar electricity. It is expected to meet 2 million people's annual domestic requirements while reducing carbon emissions by 1.5 million tons each year. The Karapinar solar project alone was responsible for a 20% increase in the percentage of solar power stations in Turkey.

A total of 1300 million dollars was spent on the Karapinar Solar Power Plant. Kalyon Energy exemplifies Turkey's dedication to the use of clean and renewable energy while also delivering an annual influx of over 400 million dollars in foreign exchange to the country. The price of one-kilowatt hour of electricity generated by the Karapinar power plant is 6.99 cents.

In March 2017, a consortium consisting of Kalyon and Hanwha was awarded the first solar energy Renewable Energy Resource Zones (YEKA) tender bid. Kalyon's ambitions for this project included establishing a technological basis for future solar projects that will help the Turkish Ministry of Energy meet its sustainability targets. Kalyon PV has raised its annual solar capacity from 500 MW to 1,000 MW, and another 150 million dollars to 200 million dollars is expected to increase it to more than 2,000 MW.

Kalyon Karap?nar Solar Power Plant Funding 

Turkey was powered by 1.3 GW of solar plants from GE Renewable Energy and Kalyon. For the construction of Turkey's largest solar park, Kalyon Enerji signed a 12-year financing agreement with eight Turkish and international banks for a total of 812 million dollars. The U.K. Export Finance (UKEF), a British export credit agency, JPMorgan Chase, and six Turkish banks—Denizbank, I?bank, Development Investment Bank of Turkey, Garanti BBVA, Industrial Development Bank of Turkey (TSKB), and Vak?fBank—signed the agreement for the Kalyon Karap?nar Solar Power Plant.

In its greatest-ever commitment to a solar project, the United Kingdom Environment Finance Corporation (UKEF) also provided financial support to the Turkish government in the amount of over 217 million pounds to assist in the construction of what will be Turkey's largest solar plant. GE Energy Financial Services worked with the UKEF to get the 217 million pound Buyer Credit Facility approved.

Track Latest Solar PV Projects in Balkans Region     Discover the Next Big Project!

Kalyon Karap?nar Solar Power Plant Contractors

Kalyon Enerji Group and China Electronics Technology Corporation (CETC)  signed a joint venture agreement to develop the Karap?nar solar power plant along with a PV module manufacturing facility.

In November 2019, Genel Elektrik Sistemleri (GES) was signed for equipment supply, basic and detailed design, testing, erection, and commissioning of the 400kV and 154kV substations for the solar plant.

In July 2020, Vekon was given the contract to manufacture and supply the profile structure for the plant whereas, the contract for transporting the solar panels was given to Chain Logistics. 

The contract for repair, maintenance, operation, and construction of the Karapinar Solar Power Plant was given to Nexten Enerji. 

RINA, which conducted the location survey and investigation in the final month of 2017, was hired to provide the project's 2020 ESIA report. 

The Results 

A Vow to Promote Clean Energy

The Karapinar solar plant project has the ability to supply Turkish households with clean and renewable electricity by eliminating 1.5 million metric tons of carbon emissions. It focuses more on natural energy resources.

Developments in technology

Kalyon Holding has obtained quality, performance, and efficiency certificates from internationally recognized institutions, proving the superiority of their technology and brand-new solar PV modules in accordance with global norms.

Progress Toward the Future

The foundation laid by Kalyon's Karapinar Solar Power Plant project facilitated the construction of future clean energy projects in Turkey, bringing the country closer to its lofty solar power targets.

Superior Method of Financing

Kalyon Group won the Adam Smith Award for Best Funding Solution in 2020 because of its collaboration with J.P. Morgan and other lenders on a structured loan for project financing.

To conclude 

The Kalyon Solar Technologies Factory, inaugurated by Erdo?an in August 2020, is the first fully integrated solar panel production center, encompassing all stages of solar panel production under one roof. The "Sustainability Framework Standards" established by the World Bank are followed meticulously at the Karapinar Solar modules, which boasts one of the most advanced solar power systems in the world for natural electricity generation.

The construction of the Kalyon Karap?nar Solar Power Plant assisted Turkey in reducing its substantial energy imports and supported its efforts to increase the production of renewable energy resources, which has already been fueled by large-scale solar and wind power tenders. Karapinar Solar Power Plant intends to make the world a cleaner place by utilizing natural resources and making Turkey a more powerful nation.
 

Discover more such projects with ease.

Are you looking for a platform that gives you reliable, high-quality, and timely project insights for solar power plant projects worldwide?

Discover the Global Project Tracking (GPT) platform by Blackridge Research, designed to provide you with the most recent solar power projects and tenders in Balkans Region better and faster across various stages of development:

• Upcoming projects
• Tender Notices
• Contract award announcements
• Projects in progress or under construction
• Successfully completed projects

The user-friendly interface helps you obtain early-stage awareness of projects and find the right business opportunity quickly.

With its user-friendly interface, this platform empowers you to gain early-stage awareness of projects and swiftly identify the right business opportunities.

Each project will have all the essential details, such as scope, capacity, CapEx, status, project description, companies involved, funding information, location, periodic updates, important event dates like construction start dates, commissioning dates, and key contact information of project owners and stakeholders.

The database is a vital resource for a wide range of entities, including developers, EPC companies, project owners, solar PV module suppliers, BOM, Operation and Maintenance (O&M) companies, data analytics and software providers, consulting and advisory firms, power utilities, investors and financial institutions lending to projects as well as refinancing existing projects, research and development organizations, companies looking for acquisition of solar power plants, government and regulatory bodies, and law firms.

Book a free demo to learn more about the Balkans solar power plant projects database and how we can help you achieve your goals.