Çayırhan power station is a 620 MW operational coal fired power station in Turkey in Ankara Province.[1] In 2019 land was expropriated for another lignite mine, to feed the a proposed extension, which was opposed as uneconomic and eventually had its licence revoked.[2][3]
| Çayırhan power station | |
|---|---|
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| Country |
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| Coordinates | 40°05′49″N 31°41′42″E / 40.097°N 31.695°E |
| Status | Operational |
| Commission date |
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| Owner(s) | |
| Thermal power station | |
| Primary fuel | |
| Power generation | |
| Nameplate capacity |
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| Annual net output |
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| External links | |
| Website | www |
History edit
In 2017 the government privatized the Çayırhan-B lignite coalfield on condition a coal-fired power plant is built, in the hope that it would be the first of a wave of similar deals for various lignite coalfields around the country.[4]
Ownership edit
The project was a joint venture between Kolin, Kalyon and Çelikler.[5] But in 2020 the licence expired and as of 2024 it belongs to EÜAŞ with a different licence number.[6]
Finance edit
An extension was proposed at an estimated cost of $1.1-billion but was not done.[5]
Subsidies edit
The government is giving a 15-year purchase guarantee.[5]
Economics edit
The winning consortium bid $60.4 per megawatt, but according to opponents of the extension expanding Turkey's solar power would save taxpayers money in the long term.[2]
Employment edit
The company said it would employ 500 people in the plant and 1,500 for coal mining.[5]
Coal supply edit
As Turkish lignite is heavy compared to its energy content coal must be sourced locally. According to one source Çayırhan is a longwall mine (therefore underground),[7] but Global Energy Monitor says it is opencast. Coalfields in Ankara province include Beypazarı-Çayırhan, Gölbaşı-Karagedik, Gölbaşı-Bahçeköy, Ayaş-Kayıbucak and Şereflikoçhisar.[4]
Environmental Impact edit
Despite the environmental impact assessment having been approved opponents of the extension claim the environment will be damaged.
Dust edit
As of 2020[update] the plant is operating with inadequate dust filters[8] and Turkey has no legal limit on ambient fine particules (PM2.5). Opponents claim that Nallıhan bird sanctuary, 6 km away, could be damaged.[2]
Sulfur Dioxide edit
As of 2020[update] the plant is operating with inadequate sulfur treatment,[9][8] and the area is a sulfur dioxide air pollution hotspot[10]
Nitrogen oxides edit
As of 2020[update] the plant is operating without sufficient NOx filtering.[8]
Greenhouse gases edit
After extension the power station would contribute an estimated 4 megatonnes (Mt) a year to Turkey's greenhouse gas emissions.[2] As Turkey has no carbon emission trading it would not be economically viable to capture and store the gas.[11]
Opposition edit
The Chamber of Mechanical Engineers has questioned why the existing plant was granted a 2020 operating license without meeting air pollution standards.[8] Opponents include Ankara 350.org and singer Tarkan.[2]
In 2022 the NGO Climate Change, Policy, and Research Association alleged that the power station did not comply with flue gas regulations, was burning coal from a mine which did not have a permit, and risked collapsing.[12]: 30 [13][14]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "EMBA Electricity Production Co. Inc". EMBA Elektrik Üretim A.Ş. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Çevrecilerin karşı çıktığı proje için 'acele kamulaştırma' kararı". Gazete Duvar. 16 April 2019.
- ^ Birliği -, Ekoloji (2021-03-15). "13 termik santral ve HES projesinin enerji üretim lisansı iptal edilip sonlandırıldı". Ekoloji Birliği (in Turkish). Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ a b "Ankara". Coal in Turkey. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
- ^ a b c d "$1.1 billion investment planned in coal plant". Daily Sabah. 7 February 2017.
- ^ "Bakan Bayraktar açıkladı! Yerli kömür üretiminde hedef 6 milyon ton" (in Turkish). 2024-03-20. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
- ^ "Coal production in Turkey and major projects". Mining Technology. 2023-04-06. Retrieved 2023-09-09.
- ^ a b c d "MMO Başkanı, Termik Santraller İle İlgili Bir Basın Açıklaması Yaptı". Enerji Portalı (in Turkish). 24 January 2020.
- ^ "Baskı sonuç verdi: Filtresiz termik santrallere izin çıkmadı | DW | 15.02.2019". DW.COM (in Turkish). Retrieved 2019-09-04.
- ^ "Global SO2 emission hotspot database" (PDF). Greenpeace. August 2019.
- ^ Esmaeili, Danial (June 2018). Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage in the Context of Turkish Energy Market (PDF). Sabancı University.
- ^ Boom and Bust Coal 2023 (Report). Global Energy Monitor. 2023-04-05.
- ^ "İklim Değişikliği Politika ve Araştırma Derneği". iklimdernegi.org. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ "İklim Değişikliği Politika ve Araştırma Derneği". iklimdernegi.org. Retrieved 2023-04-06.