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Turkey is prototyping a new kind of solar panel, one that floats on hydroelectric dam water reservoirs.

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Turkey is prototyping a new kind of solar panel, one that floats on hydroelectric dam water reservoirs.

We adore Turkey’s solar energy project in the desert, and the fact that Turkey youth will pay 10% more for renewable energy. Now let’s look at a new floating island of solar panels in a pilot in the Elazığ province in Eastern Anatolia,  Turkey on the Keban Dam.

The installation of a new floating solar power project in Elazığ, worth $2.2 million USD and with a capacity of 1 MW, has been completed by the State-owned General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI), marking the initiation of its test production phase. This project, with a total cost of EUR 2.2 million, is anticipated to produce approximately 1.8 GWh annually.

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With dam reservoirs covering about 4000 square miles in Turkey, the country envisions significant potential for floating solar power plants. Such plants could generate 79.5 billion kilowatt-hours annually, meeting a substantial portion of the nation’s energy demand while conserving water resources. Turkey is currently building one of the world’s biggest dams, the Ilisu dam and water experts believe it will impact the drought in Iraq. (For the last 15 years Iraq has been asking Turkey and Syria to help release water from their dam projects.)

The project director, Yumaklı, highlighted that the floating solar power plant is complemented by a 2 MW unit situated on land. Comprising 5,028 panels spread across 1.5 hectares, this land-based unit is expected to generate an additional 4.2 GWh per year.

Yumaklı underscored the financial strain caused by pumping systems, especially in cases where irrigated areas are situated at a higher altitude than the reservoir. To mitigate such expenses and adapt to the effects of climate change, Yumaklı emphasized Turkey’s shift towards closed irrigation systems utilizing gravity wherever feasible.

The potential of floating solar power extends beyond electricity generation, with significant implications for water conservation. Yumaklı mentioned ongoing scientific monitoring of water quality and aquatic life in the Keban area, where the project has been implemented.

Turkey has some great new projects happening in solar energy. But the fact that it is also actively building nuclear energy plants is not great news for environmentalists. Germany shut down its last operating nuclear reactor last year as Turkey fired up its first.

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In a new survey by the French energy company Veolia, they found that 86% of Saudi residents in 2024 believe that climate change is real, compared to 59% in 2022, indicating a growing acknowledgment of climate change within the population.

The post Most Saudi residents are climate aware appeared first on Green Prophet.

In a new survey by the French energy company Veolia, they found that 86% of Saudi residents in 2024 believe that climate change is real, compared to 59% in 2022, indicating a growing acknowledgment of climate change within the population.

These findings are part of the second edition of the Barometer of Ecological Transformation, a biennial survey conducted by Veolia in partnership with Elabe to understand the world’s views on existing solutions for addressing the triple challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The results of the global study can be found here (links to PDF).

Other Saudi Arabia data highlights on environmental issues:

• 52% of Saudi residents feel exposed and vulnerable to pollution-related illnesses
• 43% of Saudi residents feel exposed and vulnerable to migration due to pollution and climate factors
• 86% of Saudi residents in 2024 believe that climate change is real, compared to 59% in 2022
• 58% of Saudi residents think that the future is still in our hands, and we can still limit climate disruption and pollution
• A majority of Saudi residents would consume food (68%) and water (58%) grown from recycled water

The positive increases in belief and awareness regarding climate change and ecological transformation in Saudi Arabia between 2022 and 2024 reflect the efforts in the Kingdom as well as the region to prioritize sustainability and an emissions-free future – underscored by two COPs being held in the region, the UAE’s Year of Sustainability Initiative, and the Saudi Green Initiative. This year Saudi Arabia hosted the UN World Environment Day.

According to the latest edition of the survey, the perception of climate disruption risk being serious and immediate increased from 56% in 2022 to 67% in 2024, showing a heightened awareness of the urgency of addressing climate issues.

Read related: This Saudi startup is growing food on depleted aquifers

In an encouraging sign of progress, 78% of respondents in Saudi Arabia believe that there is sufficient discussion about implementing solutions to mitigate pollution and climate disruption. Acceptance rates for green solutions have greatly improved, with recycling initiatives and water treatment receiving moderate support while significant acceptance is evident in adopting measures like consuming food (68%) and water (58%) grown from recycled water.

This exclusive study aligns well with Veolia’s 2024-2027 strategic plan GreenUp, which aims to stimulate innovation and growth to depollute, decarbonize, and regenerate our resources. The drivers behind the GreenUp strategy will uniquely position Veolia to meet the challenges raised in the recent survey.

Globally, more than 66% of the world is gripped by ecological fears, with respondents feeling vulnerable to risks linked to climate change and pollution. The findings highlight widespread recognition of climate change (89%) and a prioritization of health over cost in decisions regarding water, waste, and energy (97%), with two-thirds foreseeing greater costs from inaction and expressing openness to health-centric solutions despite potential cost increases.

The survey was conducted in 26 countries across 5 continents, involving over 29,500 people. Collectively, these countries represent nearly 60% of the world’s population, 67% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and 77% of global GDP.

Veolia is a French transnational company with activities in three main service and utility areas traditionally managed by public authorities – water management, waste management and energy services

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Stedsans is an off-the-grid forest resort in Southern Sweden (2 hours from Gothenburg/Malmö and less than 3 hours from Copenhagen) with a regenerative farm, a restaurant that goes deep into the flavors of seasonal ingredients, 16 simple wooden cabins, campsite, and a floating sauna on the lake.

The post Stedsans – the floating sauna, Farm to Table retreat is for sale appeared first on Green Prophet.

During the hours of COVID boredom (and isolation fantasies) we stumbled across the Forest to Table eco retreat in Sweden, called Stedsans. We feel in love with their floating sauna, but also their lopsided off-grid cabins. And obviously we fantasized about being their eating foraged everything, running around with fragments of moss between our toes.

Stedsans is an off-the-grid forest resort in Southern Sweden (2 hours from Gothenburg/Malmö and less than 3 hours from Copenhagen) with a regenerative farm, a restaurant that goes deep into the flavors of seasonal ingredients, 16 simple wooden cabins, campsite, and a floating sauna on the lake.

The vision was started by a Swedish chef who moved her passion to the forest where people could book a cabin and a lovely communal meal created by findings from the forest and hyper local suppliers nearby. But every vision and creation, when done well, has a lifespan.

They are selling: “After 8 years in the forest it is time for us to hand over our beautiful project to someone else. Our decision to let go of this very special place has not been easy. We have poured our hearts into creating a little slice of paradise on Earth, and we hope and expect to find new owners who will take well care of it and all of the potential it offers.”

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Stedsans is now a popular restaurant and forest resort with it’s own permaculture farm, but it may very well become something else, they suggest. “Maybe a retreat center, a conference space for a forward-thinking business – or a private home, maybe even a little village, with amazing development potential. Whatever dream you carry in your heart, we will be happy to show you around and give our feed-back to ensure we find a really good match for this place and business.”

Link to Stedsans for more, below.

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