The interest in renewable energies for a sustainable future has brought new concepts with it. The most prominent of these concepts, Solar Parks (Solar Fields), has also taken its place among the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainability Goals.
Among the sustainability goals determined, investment in renewable energy continues to increase at a high pace, and Solar Parks (Solar Fields), which are the most prominent among these investments, attract a lot of attention.
I would like to touch on the subject of Solar Parks (Solar Fields), which also occupy the world’s agenda in terms of renewable energy, in detail and with world examples.
Solar Parks (Solar Fields) are large-scale energy production facilities that convert sunlight into electrical energy with a large number of solar panels placed over a large area. These facilities are usually installed in open areas and provide a large amount of energy to the electricity grid. Solar farm installation has several stages.
- Planning and Design: Suitable land is selected, energy needs are analyzed, and the placement of solar panels is designed.
- Permits and Approvals: Necessary permits are obtained from local authorities and energy regulators.
- Infrastructure and Foundation Work: Land is prepared, foundation construction is carried out.
- Panel Installation: Solar panels are placed on mounting poles and electrical connections are made.
- System Testing and Commissioning: The system is tested and connected to the electrical grid.
- Maintenance and Monitoring: Regular maintenance and performance monitoring are carried out.
Solar Parks (Solar Fields) are an effective solution for large-scale energy production and environmental sustainability. Solar fields can be installed not only on land but also on water. Such solar fields are called floating solar fields.
The economic and environmental benefits of Solar Parks (Solar Fields) offer significant advantages for large-scale energy projects. In addition to economic benefits such as low costs and investment returns, environmental benefits are also quite high. Both economic and environmental benefits can be listed as follows:
Economic Benefits
- Low Operating Costs: The operating and maintenance costs of solar farms are lower than other energy production methods. Solar panels have a long life and maintenance requirements are generally minimal.
- Energy Independence: Solar farms provide energy production locally, thus reducing dependence on energy imports and increasing energy security.
- Return on Investment (ROI): Solar energy projects can provide a good return on investment in the long term. As the costs of solar energy decrease and energy demand increases, the return on investment becomes more attractive.
- Innovative Financing Options: Various financing and incentive programs are available for solar energy projects, making projects more accessible.
- Job Creation: The installation and maintenance processes create employment opportunities for the local workforce. This contributes to local economies.
Environmental Benefits
- Zero Emissions: Solar energy does not emit any carbon while generating electricity. This helps reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Renewable Source: Solar energy is an inexhaustible energy source. Since sunlight is available everywhere, energy production can be provided continuously.
- Water Saving: Solar energy production does not use water, which is an important advantage especially in regions where water resources are scarce. Other energy production methods usually require large amounts of water.
- Conservation of Natural Resources: Solar energy fields help preserve natural resources by reducing the use of fossil fuels. However, the installation of solar panels can generally be done with low environmental impact.
- Land Use: Solar energy fields can be established on lands that are not suitable for agriculture or are of low value. This allows the preservation of fertile agricultural lands and the adaptation of the land to other uses.
At this point, when Solar Parks (Solar Fields) are evaluated within the scope of world practices, quite valuable examples stand out;
- Bhadla Solar Park (India): It is the largest solar energy park in the world with a capacity of 2,245 MW. Being established in a desert region provides high efficiency.
- Tengger Desert Solar Park (China): It contributes greatly to China’s energy needs with a capacity of approximately 1.5 GW.
- Noor Complex (Morocco): It reaches a capacity of 580 MW by producing both photovoltaic and thermal energy. It can also produce electricity at night thanks to its energy storage feature.
- Pavagada Solar Park (India): It is one of the largest in the world with a capacity of 2,050 MW and creates a social model by leasing land to farmers.
- Topaz Solar Farm (USA): Located in California, this facility with a capacity of 550 MW is a pioneer in large-scale clean energy production.
- Şanlıurfa Birecik Solar Park (Turkey): Turkey’s first solar field was established in Şanlıurfa Birecik hydroelectric power plant area in 2021.
- Gaziantep Solar Park (Turkey): In Gaziantep, the Solar Park project aims to produce 45,800 megawatts of electricity annually and prevent 28,458 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
While the field work of the 11-megawatt facility in Deredüzü has been completed, the 6-megawatt Solar Power Plant (SPP) projects in Doğanca and the 10-megawatt Solar Power Plant (SPP) projects in Köksalan are planned to be put into operation this year. At the same time, with the project, the Metropolitan Municipality also aims to contribute to the target of reducing carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050 in the Mayors’ Agreement it signed.
As a result; The future of the Solar Park (Solar fields) has great potential together with the developments in the energy sector and technological innovations. This system will be shaped by “technological innovations,” “energy storage solutions,” “smart systems,” and “integrated solutions.” These developments, which have attracted considerable attention worldwide, will make significant contributions to the sustainable and clean energy transition by enabling solar energy to be used in a wider area.
Sources:
Solar Parks: Maximizing Utilization & Sustainability
Solar Park: Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future
Al Maktoum Solar Park expands for Dubai’s 2050 energy goals | AGBI
Türkiye surpasses 2025 solar target as capacity doubles in 2.5 years | Ember
https://entegresolar.com/blog-detay-Gunes-Tarlasi-Nedir-Nasil-Kurulur-22
https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/solar/utility-scale/what-is-a-solar-farm/#gref
She graduated from Çankaya University Faculty of Law in 2005. In the same year, she completed her master’s degree in Constitutional Law at Çankaya University, Department of Public Law. Until 2011, she worked as an ODY-ÜDY Instructor at Vocational Training Centers affiliated with the Ministry of Transport. For approximately 15 years, she has been working as a legal expert at the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB). Initially, she was involved in Foreign Trade and International Logistics at TOBB and represented the United Nations for nearly seven years. She is currently serving as a legal expert in the SME Policies Directorate within the TOBB Department of Real Sector R&D and Implementation.
Meanwhile, she is working on completing her doctoral dissertation in Administrative Law at Gazi University, Department of Public Law-Administrative Law. After completing her thesis on TOBB, which is recognized by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) in Turkey, she plans to publish it as a book.
Additionally, since 2023, she has been writing columns in the London section of “DÜNDAR HUKUK” and “DÜNDAR LEGAL SERVICE CONSULTANCY,” which have established themselves internationally, particularly in the field of energy and renewable energy.