Tunçbilek power station
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Tunçbilek power station (Kütahya Termik Santrali) is an operating power station of at least 300-megawatts (MW) in Tunçbilek, Kütahya, Türkiye with multiple units, some of which are not currently operating.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Tunçbilek power station | Tunçbilek, Kütahya, Türkiye | 39.619778, 29.465881 (approximate) |
The map below shows the approximate location of the power station.
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expansion | cancelled | coal: lignite | 300 | unknown | – |
| Unit 3 | mothballed | coal: lignite | 65 | subcritical | 1965 |
| Unit 4 | operating | coal: lignite | 150 | subcritical | 1977 |
| Unit 5 | operating | coal: lignite | 150 | subcritical | 1978 |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Expansion | Çelikler Orhaneli Tunçbilek Elektrik Üretim AŞ [100%] | Çelikler Yatırım Holding AŞ |
| Unit 3 | Çelikler Orhaneli Tunçbilek Elektrik Üretim AŞ [100%] | Çelikler Yatırım Holding AŞ |
| Unit 4 | Çelikler Orhaneli Tunçbilek Elektrik Üretim AŞ [100%] | Çelikler Yatırım Holding AŞ |
| Unit 5 | Çelikler Orhaneli Tunçbilek Elektrik Üretim AŞ [100%] | Çelikler Yatırım Holding AŞ |
Project-level coal details
- Coal source(s): domestic
Background
The first units of the Tunçbilek Kütahya coal-fired power station were built in 1956 to 1978.[1] Beginning in 2007, only Units 4 and 5, totaling 300 MW capacity, were functioning. Starting in February 2013, the plant was at 365 MW, after Unit 3 was restored to partial capacity.[2] In April 2018, it was doubtful whether Units 1 and 2 could be brought back into operation.[3]
Environmental impact
In February 2019 the Right to Clean Air Platform, a coalition of 17 professional organizations and NGOs, successfully campaigned to stop the Turkish Parliament from delaying stronger air pollution requirements for some old coal plants from 2019 until 2021.[5] The delay would have allowed Tunçbilek Çelikler to continue to operate without a desulphurization system or modernised dust filters.[6] In November 2019 the Turkish Parliament approved a bill to extend the deadline for stronger emissions standards to 2021.[7] 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".[8]
As a result, Tunçbilek Çelikler 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.[9] In January 2020 Tunçbilek Çelikler was one of five plants closed by the government under Environmental Law 2872 for failing to install a more effective air filtration system. The other closed plants were Afşin-Elbistan A, Kütahya Seyitömer, Sivas Kangal and Zonguldak Çatalağzı.[10] In May 2020 the plant installed a flue gas treatment system that it claimed was in compliance with Environmental Law 2872, and applied to the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization for permission to reopen.[11] In June 2020 two of the plant's three units were declared in compliance with the new filter requirement and were cleared to resume operating with a one-year temporary license.[12]
In 2022, the company announced that the implementation of new flue gas treatment and filtration systems had been completed. In the same statement, Çelikler Holding noted the environmental impact of the plant and their intention to remain in operation "uninterruptedly".[13]
In November 2022, an explosion occurred at the power station during a controlled ash removal process. No injuries were reported, but workers were close enough to catch the event on video.[14]
Proposed expansion
There were several mentions in the news media about additional capacity expansions, which were supposed to bring the area's coal-fired capacity to roughly 1,000 MW in total. Part of this was apparently the Kütahya Domaniç power station, but it seemed that another 300 MW of additional capacity would be added to the new Polat Tunçbilek power station. It was possible, however, that this was referring to an additional 300 MW that would be added to the Tunçbilek Kütahya plant.[15][16]
An August 2014 article suggested that the aging power station may be replaced by a new 600 MW coal plant.[17]
In December 2014, Turkish construction and energy company, Çelikler Holding, won a tender for the privatization of the Tunçbilek Kütahya and Orhaneli power stations for US$521 million. There was no mention in the news on expanding or replacing the Tunçbilek Kütahya plant.[18]
With no developments on this proposed unit, plans appeared to be abandoned.
Opposition and impact
In February 2024, workers from Orhaneli power station, Tunçbilek power station, and Seyitömer power station held a march advocating for fair wages.[19]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ Çelikler Tunçbilek Termik Santrali, company website, accessed May 2018
- ↑ Tunçbilek Termik Santrali'ndeki 3. Ünite Tekrar Devrede, Haberler, Feb. 5, 2013.
- ↑ Turkey: Need To Clarify Actual Installed Energy Power – OpEd, Eurasia Review, 6 April 2018
- ↑ Çelikler Tunçbilek Termik Santralinin bacalarından zehir tütüyor, iSCi Haber, Apr. 27, 2019
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 5 thermal power plants that did not install filters and did not take flue gas treatment measures were completely closed, BBC, Jan. 2, 2020
- ↑ Bacalar milli ekonomi için temiz tütmeye hazır, Sabah, May 18, 2020
- ↑ Son dakika... Bakan Kurum'dan termik santral açıklaması, Hurriyet, Jun. 8, 2020
- ↑ Seyitömer ve Tunçbilek termik santrallerinde çevre yatırımları tamamlandı, Sirket Haberleri, February 24, 2022
- ↑ Termik santralde patlama anı kamerada!, Kutahyadan Haber, November 5, 2022
- ↑ Yüksek Kalorili Linyit Kömürü, Elektrik Enerjisine Dönüştürülecek, Kutahyaninsesi, June 25, 2013.
- ↑ Köşe Yazısı: Tunçbilek ve Domaniç, Enerji Enstitüsü, Feb. 19, 2013.
- ↑ "Tunçbilek santrali alınır mı?" Enerji Gunlugu, Aug 6, 2014
- ↑ "Celikler Holding: An active player in Turkey’s energy sector," Maritime, Dec 23, 2014
- ↑ Kütahya'da termik santral işçileri eylem yaptı, Sonhaber, February 19, 2024
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.
