The Sino-Turkish solar company HT Solar Energy was founded in 2016 to manufacture solar modules in the Tuzla Free Trade Zone in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city.
Since then, the manufacturer has been supplying solar modules to the Turkish market and exporting its products via Turkey to the USA as well as to several countries in Europe and the Middle East.
Bao Yue, general manager of HT Solar Energy, said the company is “helping the country's economy receive more foreign currency and expand its export capacity” while providing employment opportunities for over 500 people.
Since the solar industry is a very new business, it needs creative people and Turkey fulfills those needs with its well-educated young population, he said.
Turkey and China mutually benefit from the advantages in the field of solar module production.
Chinese companies can benefit from Turkey's position in exporting their products to other parts of the world, and Chinese manufacturers can contribute to the Turkish economy, create employment opportunities and attract foreign investment to the country, according to Turkish and Chinese industry insiders.
HT Solar Energy was founded in 2016 to produce solar modules in the Tuzla Free Trade Zone in Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, as a subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned company HT-SAAE.
“In our factory we have a lot of white-colored workers born after 1980 and 1990. They are practically doing very well,” said the manager.
Yue noted that his company uses the most advanced piping and technology on the market and acts as a huge training school for the solar industry in Turkey.
“We hire young people, teach them how to operate and educate them about the industry,” he added.
In the coming period, HT Solar Energy plans to increase its investments in Turkey and attract other Chinese companies active in this field.
“We are a manufacturer of solar panels, but if you want to build a solar power plant, you also need other technical devices such as inventors and solar cables,” he said, referring to the potential newcomers to Turkey.
“This is our plan, but due to the coronavirus, many have been postponed and will be delayed. But this direction will not be changed. “
Yusuf Bayrak, retired power generation analyst and planner, said Turkey and China could work more closely together on sharing information and building joint research and development centers.
“These would definitely bring technological and economic returns to Turkey,” Bayrak Xinhua said in a written interview.
He said that in the coming period, wind resources will also gain importance in electricity generation in Turkey and that developments in these areas will accelerate. “This is where power storage technology becomes just as important as making solar panels and wind turbines,” he said.
Yusuf Bayrak, retired power generation analyst and planner, said Turkey and China could work more closely together on sharing information and building joint research and development centers.
“These would definitely bring technological and economic returns to Turkey,” Bayrak Xinhua said in a written interview.
He said that in the coming period, wind resources will also gain importance in electricity generation in Turkey and that developments in these areas will accelerate. “This is where power storage technology becomes just as important as making solar panels and wind turbines,” he said.
“Therefore, close cooperation between Turkey and China can be established to invest in power storage technology as well,” he suggested.
According to Fatih Donmez, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, electricity generation in Turkey from renewable energies has been over 40 percent in the past three years, compared to 25 percent 10 years ago.
Donmez told local media on Wednesday that renewable energies will boost economic dynamism in Turkey through resource investments, infrastructure and technology investments and new network investments.