Çayırhan power station
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Çayırhan power station is an operating power station of at least 620-megawatts (MW) in Çayırhan, Nallıhan, Ankara, Türkiye with multiple units, some of which are not currently operating. It is also known as Cayirhan B power station (Phase B), Ankara Park power station, Cayirhan power station.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Çayırhan power station | Çayırhan, Nallıhan, Ankara, Türkiye | 40.097, 31.695 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Phase B, Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4: 40.097, 31.695
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase B | cancelled | coal: lignite | 800 | unknown | – |
| Unit 1 | operating | coal: lignite | 150 | subcritical | 1987 |
| Unit 2 | operating | coal: lignite | 150 | subcritical | 1987 |
| Unit 3 | operating | coal: lignite | 160 | subcritical | 1999 |
| Unit 4 | operating | coal: lignite | 160 | subcritical | 2000 |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Phase B | Kolin-Kalyon-Celikler Consortium [100%] | Kolin Group; Çelikler Yatırım Holding AŞ |
| Unit 1 | Electricity Generation Company (Türkiye) AŞ [100%] | Electricity Generation Company (Türkiye) AŞ [100.0%] |
| Unit 2 | Electricity Generation Company (Türkiye) AŞ [100%] | Electricity Generation Company (Türkiye) AŞ [100.0%] |
| Unit 3 | Electricity Generation Company (Türkiye) AŞ [100%] | Electricity Generation Company (Türkiye) AŞ [100.0%] |
| Unit 4 | Electricity Generation Company (Türkiye) AŞ [100%] | Electricity Generation Company (Türkiye) AŞ [100.0%] |
Project-level coal details
- Coal source(s): Çayırhan coal mines
Background
Çayırhan power station is a four-unit subcritical lignite coal-fired power station with a total 620 MW capacity. It was commissioned from 1987 to 2000. In 2001 and 2002 the operation right of the plant and the mining areas was transferred from Elektrik Üretim (EÜAŞ), the state-controlled power agency to Park Termik, an affiliate of the Ciner Group, under a Transfer of Operating Rights (TOR) agreement.[1] In April 2020 three of the plant's four units were idled for a week due to decreased electricity demand resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.[2] In July 2020 Ciner Group's operating lease for the station expired and ownership returned to EÜAŞ.[3]
In April 2022, the project was described by Turkey's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources as a "vital facility" (Google translate). At this point, the project met 11.1% of Ankara's total electricity consumption and employed 2,304 people. In addition, research and development for a Coal Gasification and Hydrogen Production project was conducted for the plant.[4]
In November 2023, Çayırhan power station was reportedly under consideration for privatization by the government.[5]
In March 2024, Türkiye's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources stated that Çayırhan power station was a nationally important energy project because of its use of domestic coal. He stated that the country cannot "turn its back on coal", despite the fact that 99% of new capacity in Türkiye in 2023 was from renewable energy sources.[6]
Çayırhan B
In 2016, Çayırhan-B coal power plant with an estimated capacity of 700-800 MW was proposed after feasibility studies by Elektrik Üretim. Çayırhan-B was proposed to use domestic lignite extracted from Çayırhan-2 mine. In 2016, the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) report[7] of the plant was submitted by Elektrik Üretim and received the positive decision.[8][9] In August 2016, an emergency expropriation[10] was issued to expedite the plan.[9]
In February 2017, the plant and the mine were put up for privatization by Elektrik Üretim and the Kolin-Kalyon-Celikler Partnership won the tender.[11] Further, the government gave the guarantee of purchase of 0,604 US dollar/kWhr for the 15 years to the operating company; this action has been criticised as the given guarantee of purchase was in a foreign currency (US dollars) and also high, almost 160% of 2016 wholesale electricity prices in Turkey.[12] It was estimated that Phase B would emit 4 million tons of carbon dioxide per year.[13]
In January 2018, the EIA report was revised[14] and in April 2019 a second emergency expropriation was issued to secure the extraction of required coal to meet the planned 800 MW capacity.[15] It is further known that the planned capacity had been decreased due to concerns about the limited amount of lignite coal in the mine,[16] and was later increased.[17] In December 2018, the operation license was given to Çayırhan Elektrik Üretim Ve Madencilik company, established by Kolin-Kalyon-Celikler Partnership.[18][19]
In November 2020 the Ankara 6th Administrative Court invalidated the plant's zoning plan in response to a lawsuit filed by the Ankara Branch of Chamber of Architects of TMMOB and TEMA Foundation, alleging that the environmental risks from building the plant were not adequately studied. The plant is cancelled.[20]
In March 2021, EMRA cancelled the plant's license.[21]
Hydrogen plant on campus
In May 2023, the General Manager of EÜAŞ stated that they would be developing a 20 MW hydrogen and coal gas power station at the same location as the Çayırhan power station.[22]
Environmental Impact
The planned Çayırhan B plant is being criticised due to its proximity to settlements and some natural reserves such as Davutoğlan Wildlife Development Area and Nallıhan Bird Sanctuary[23] which is an important bird breeding ground where at least 191 bird species have been recorded.[15]
The operating Çayırhan A plant has also been criticised due to the lack of modern stack filtration systems, and it is unclear whether the plant installed a modernised dust, desulphurization and denitrification system.[24] [25] In February 2019 the Right to Clean Air Platform-Turkey, a coalition of 17 professional organizations and NGOs, successfully campaigned to stop the Turkish Parliament from delaying proper air pollution filtration system and infrastructure requirements for old privatised coal plants until 2021, including ÇATES.[26] The delay would have allowed ÇATES to continue to operate without a modern dust, desulphurization and denitrification system.[27] [28] In November 2019 the Turkish Parliament approved the bill.[29] However on Dec. 2, 2019 President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan vetoed the bill and said this veto was motivated by "environmental sensitivity".[30]
As a result, Çayırhan A and other privatised coal power plants that have not completed the required infrastructure including filtration system must complete these requirements beginning Jan. 1, 2020 or these plants will face closure and/or fines.[31] In January 2020 the plant received a "temporary activity certificate" that will allow it to continue operating for six months despite its failure to comply with filtration requirements under Environmental Law 2872.[32] As of May 2020 the plant was operating with a "temporary activity certificate" that will allow it to continue operating until January 2021 despite its failure to comply with filtration requirements under Environmental Law 2872.[33] In May 2020 Greenpeace applied to the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization to shut down Çayırhan A and eight other plants not in compliance with Environmental Law 2872 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the correlation between fine particulate pollution and higher mortality rates from Covid-19.[33][34]
In October 2022, a report from the Climate Change, Policy and Research Association warned of major environmental concerns surrounding the Çayırhan power station. According to the report, the plant was out of compliance with flue gas limits in February, March, April and May 2022. In addition, the mine that supplies the power station allegedly did not have an environmental permit. The report also claimed that the project's coal ash storage dam was at risk of imminent collapse.[35] Pollution from leaching threatened the Sarıyar Dam, which supplied water to Istanbul.[36]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ "Park Termik Şirket Profili," Park Termik, accessed Dec 2019
- ↑ Çayırhan Termik Santrali'nde üniteler devreye alındı, Time Turk, May 4, 2020
- ↑ Park Elektrik Çayırhan Termik Santralini EÜAŞ’a devretti Kaynak: Park Elektrik Çayırhan Termik Santralini EÜAŞ’a devretti , Enerji Gunlugu, Jul. 1, 2020
- ↑ Bakan Dönmez: Kılıçdaroğlu'nun ziyaret ettiği evde elektrikleri kendi elleriyle kesmişler, aa.com.tr, April 27, 2022
- ↑ Son varlıklar haraç mezat satılacak, BirGun, November 2, 2023
- ↑ Bu Ülkenin Enerjiye İhtiyacı Var, Enerji ve Tabii Kaynaklar Bakanlığı, March 20, 2024
- ↑ Çayırhan-B EIA, 2016, Çevresel Etki Değerlendirmesi, İzin Ve Denetim Genel Müdürlüğü, 30 May 2016.
- ↑ "Elektrik Piyasası Önlisansları,prelicence ÖN/7168/03697 expires July 2020" EMRA, accessed April 2018
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 EUAS 2016 Yıllık Faaliyet Raporu, EUAS, 2016, accessed December 2019.
- ↑ Expropriation is the action of the governmental bodies to obtain immovable when the purpose of public interest is legally recognized.
- ↑ "Kolin-Kalyon-Celikler win Cayirhan privatization tender," Anadolu Agency, Feb 6, 2017
- ↑ Ankara'nın Kuş Cennetine Termik Santral, Turizm Haber, 27 May 2017.
- ↑ 350 Ankara: Yeni termik santral yılda 4 milyon ton karbondioksit yayacak,Hürriyet, Feb 2 2017
- ↑ Çayırhan-B EIA, 2018, Çevresel Etki Değerlendirmesi, İzin Ve Denetim Genel Müdürlüğü, 18 Jan. 2019.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Çevrecilerin karşı çıktığı proje için acele kamulaştırma kararı", T24, Apr. 16, 2019
- ↑ Çayırhan-B Termik Santrali kapasite düşürdü, Enerji Günlüğü, 22 September 2016.
- ↑ Çayırhan B’nin gücü ve bacası yükseltiliyor, Enerji Günlüğü, Feb 11 2018
- ↑ EMRA Licence website, accessed December 2019.
- ↑ Çevrecilerin karşı çıktığı proje için 'acele kamulaştırma' kararı, Gazete DuvaR, Apr. 16, 2019
- ↑ Kömürlü termik santrala yargı geçit vermedi, Birgun, Nov. 11, 2020
- ↑ 13 Termik Santral Ve HES Projesinin Enerji Üretim Lisansı Iptal Edilip Sonlandırıldı, Ekoloji Birligi, Mar. 16, 2021
- ↑ EÜAŞ’tan 20 megavatlık tesis... ‘Hidrojende yol alıyoruz’, Hurriyet, May 25, 2023
- ↑ Nallıhan Kuş Cenneti, Nallıhan Kaymakamlığı, accessed December 2019.
- ↑ Communication with HEAL, December 2019
- ↑ Orhan Aykaç, Kömür Yakıtlı Termik Santrallerin Baca Gazındaki Kirleticiler, MMO, November 2018
- ↑ Step forward for health protection in Turkey: Proposal to extend the pollution exemptions given to privatised coal power plants withdrawn, Health And Environment Alliance, Feb. 15, 2019
- ↑ Communication with HEAL, December 2019
- ↑ Turkish Parliament will vote about polluting coal power plants next week, Health And Environment Alliance, Feb. 1, 2019.
- ↑ 50’inci madde kabul edildi, Yeşil Ekonomi, 22 Nov. 2019
- ↑ Erdoğan Vetoes Bill Postponing Installation of Filters to Coal-Fired Plants, Bianet, 02 December 2019.
- ↑ TBMM Plan Ve Bütçe Komisyonu, Santrallere Filtre Düzenlemesini Yeniden Görüştü, Meclis Haber, 4 December 2019.
- ↑ Anasayfa Gündem Haberleri Bakan Kurum'dan Bursa'yı da ilgilendiren termik santral açıklaması, Bursa Hakimiyet, Jan. 1, 2020
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 Koronavirüs döneminde filtresiz termik santraller kapatılmalı, Cumhuriyet, May 22, 2020
- ↑ Isabelle Garretsen, How air pollution exacerbates Covid-19 BBC, Apr. 27, 2020
- ↑ Environmentalists warn: Çayırhan Thermal Power Plant Is About to Collapse Arti Gercek, October 29, 2022
- ↑ Near to environmental disaster by public hand Aydinlik, November 3, 2022
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
