EVALUATION OF SOLAR ENERGY, ITS PRESENT STATUS, POTENTIALS, POLICIES AND THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN TURKEY

Thanks to its perfect geographical position, Turkey has a huge solar energy potential. According to Turkey’s Solar Energy Potential Atlas (SEPA), total sunshine duration is 2738 hours, annually and the quantity of average total incoming solar energy is 1527 kWh/m? year. Today there is great a tendency towards clean, dependable and sustainable renewable energy productions to cover the increasing energy demands in all over the world. Renewable energy productions are subsidized by the governments and besides, these energy productions assure the new employment opportunities. Renewables are accepted as an alternative solution to fossil fuels not only for the generation of clean energy, but also for the protection of the environment and the entire life on earth. In this study, present status of solar energy, its potentials, productions, government incentives and solar energy usage in Turkey have been examined according to the latest developments. In this way, it has been aimed to contribute to the improvements in renewable energies and bring forth people’s awareness to the subject.