The Business Year Special Report
H. Serhan Süzer, CEO, Eko Renewable Energy Inc. (EkoRE)
EkoRE aims to utilize renewable energy resources to reduce Turkey’s dependence on energy imports.
• Interview
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected EkoRE, and how are you changing your operations?
Similar to many other energy companies, the onset of the pandemic came during the construction of one of our wind energy projects, so we took a big hit. We had to put the project on hold and we are currently in standby mode. One of the lesser-known challenges is the sudden reduction in expert advice from international partners who can no longer travel to work sites. Notably, we have a huge integrated manufacturing facility in Nigde province for 1GW of solar panels. Unfortunately, when the pandemic started, we were one or two months away from bringing a large multinational investor onboard; we now are on standby. We hope to close this deal soon and move forward.
How does EkoRE’s proposed manufacturing facility help move Turkey toward energy independence?
The initial investment target is USD500 million. The uniqueness of this facility is that it is fully integrated, including the production of silicon, ingot, wafers, cells, and modules, all in one site. The facility will be fully automated. I have been working on this project since 2013, but I had this vision even before then. We have crystalline technology, silicon mines, and the second-best solar irradiation in Europe after Spain. It only makes sense to produce our own panels. We want to reduce the country’s dependence on energy imports and, more importantly, fossil fuel imports.
What are some of the other exciting areas where EkoRE is involved?
Distributed generation excites me the most and is one of the areas EkoRE is focusing on. This fits well in the trend toward self-sufficient housing—imagine a house that produces its own power, water, and food. This is how city planning in the future will be done to ensure distributed generation, self-sufficient housing, and micro/smart grids. At present, most of our investments are focused on solar and wind power plants, with the ultimate goal of distributed generation and self-sufficient housing.
How can other renewable energy generation models fit into the distributed generation model?
The most logical starting point is solar. EkoRE is also involved in the wind power sector and—from a feasibility standpoint—in the biogas sector. Biogas is one of the instruments that can provide base load generation 24/7, through putting substances back in the natural cycle. Biogas can be a candidate for distributed generation. The idea is to come up with a micro bio gas system for homes and a combined gas unit for a group of houses. In the future, we will also see micro wind turbines that will generate electricity for a town or house. At present though, solar rules the distributed generation model.
How have EkoRE’s short-term goals changed as a result of the pandemic?
My previous short-term goal was to commission the manufacturing facility and make it operational in one year. The short-term goal is now to survive, and the medium-term goal is to make the factory operational in two years maximum. My medium-term goal in the past was to build manufacturing facility hubs around the world. Our plan was to build hubs and centers around the world, and this has now become my long-term goal. In the past, the long-term goal—which is now our longer-term goal—is to build a multinational company that focuses on sustainability including solar power, water technologies, food technology, and different types of renewable energy. Things shifted but we will never give up. We will make it happen in the end.
“Most of our investments are focused on solar and wind power plants, with the ultimate goal of distributed generation and self-sufficient housing.”