Nation's target to install 3GW of solar PV projects by 2023 is achievable, Manz representative says at Intersolar Summit Turkey

Dubai, UAE - April 8, 2015

Turkey is aiming to meet at least 30% of its energy requirements via renewable energy sources by 2023, based on figures put forward in the country's new National Renewable Energy Action Plan; basically, the nation's government is looking to stimulate a seven-fold growth in the sector within eight years. Of this target, the share of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects has been set at a minimum of 3GW. The Turkish solar market's tremendous potential for the international PV industry was assessed at the recently concluded Intersolar Summit Turkey, with German engineering firm Manz AG reporting a general consensus on the suitability of CIGS thin-film technology to meet Turkey's PV objectives.

"Given Turkey's superior solar radiation - the nation is nestled in a regional belt dubbed the 'solar band' - its sizable solar target and government incentives, industry players are very optimistic about this market. One of the key areas of focus at the summit was technologies that will dominate the local market in the next ten years, and CIGS thin-film was zeroed in on owing to its suitability to the local climate, particularly that of southern Turkey," said Mohamed Alammawi, Manz's vice president of sales for the MENA region, who represented the firm at the summit's 'Solar Future of Turkey' panel.

Currently, Turkey pays millions of dollars in energy imports each year; its energy demand doubled between 2000 and 2010, and is expected to register a four-fold increase between 2000 and 2025. The new action plan calls for a shift to renewable sources. CIGS thin-film modules are less sensitive to dust and more receptive to longer wavelengths at wider acceptance angles, making them ideal for local climate.

"The summit also stressed that know-how transfer and local production are highly supported and now also highly incentivised by the Turkish government. In addition to the numerous advantages delivered by Manz, our CIGS thin-film fully integrated turnkey production line allows users to leverage these highly attractive incentives," said Alammawi.

Turkey's feed-in tariff for PV stands at USD cents 13.3 per kWh, but the government now offers additional incentives for local production: local involvement can increase the tariff by 6.7 USD cents per kWh, to USD cents 20 per kWh. Local procurement incentives apply for the first five years of operation of the PV power plants, while preferential rates are guaranteed for 10 years.

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Company profile:

Manz AG - passion for efficiency
As one of the world's leading high-tech equipment manufacturers, Manz AG, based in Reutlingen, Germany, is a pioneer for innovative products in fast growing markets. The company, founded in 1987, has expertise in seven technology sectors: Automation, laser processing, vacuum coating, screen printing, measurement technology, wet-chemical and roll-to-roll processing. Manz applies and continues to develop these technologies in three strategic business segments: "Display," "Solar" and "Battery."

The company, headed by founder Dieter Manz and listed on the stock exchange in Germany since 2006, currently develops and produces in Germany, China, Taiwan, Slovakia, Hungary and Italy. In addition, there are distribution and service branches in the USA and India. In the middle of 2014, Manz AG had approximately 1,900 employees, around half of which are employed in Asia. With the claim "passion for efficiency," Manz gives its clients, who are active in dynamic industries of the future, its performance promise: to provide production solutions with the highest level of efficiency and innovation. Thanks to its extensive expertise in the development of new production technologies and the required equipment, Manz AG contributes substantially to lowering the production costs of end products and making them available to large buyer groups worldwide.

Public Relations contact
Manz AG
Axel Bartmann
Phone: +49 (0)7121 - 9000-395
Fax: +49 (0)7121 - 9000-99
E-Mail: abartmann@manz.com

© Press Release 2015