Recently in Ankara, Turkey launched a project under the United for Efficiency umbrella, aiming to increase the amount of energy-efficient motors its SMEs use. Strengthening of the Turkish industry, which consumes 35 per cent of the total energy used in Turkey and mostly uses inefficient motors, helps the country in reaching its targets set in its Energy Efficiency Law, Energy Strategy Plan, and the 10th National Development Plan.

Energy demand in Turkey is increasing, and a transition to energy efficiency in all sectors is becoming mandatory.

Investing in energy efficiency is not only critical for Turkey in meeting its future energy demands and reducing emissions causing climate change, but is also a driving force of Turkish economic growth.

According to a United for Efficiency model, Turkey can save 1.8 megatonnes of carbon emissions, equivalent to taking 1 million passenger cars off of its roads, by 2030 by fully transforming its markets to energy-efficient motors.

“The Turkish efforts for improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions in industry contribute both to Turkey’s climate action, and to the objective of reducing Turkish energy density as indicated in the Energy Efficiency Strategy Paper at least by 20 per cent by 2023 compared to 2011”, says Claudio Tomasi, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Turkey Country Director.

The new five-year project includes developing appropriate governance and information infrastructure, upgrading test laboratories at the Turkish Standards Institute, launching a sustainable financial support mechanism, and implementing a public awareness and training programme.

Thanks to these actions, Turkey will reduce 1 million tonnes of its carbon emissions. The significant positive impact will continue even after the project. In its following ten years, the total direct and indirect carbon emissions saved are estimated at 9 million tonnes.

“This project has a great potential. It will bring an important additional value through technical cooperation and the transfer of international experiences,” says Anıl Yılmaz, Director General of Productivity at the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology of Turkey.

A large variety of stakeholders, including from the civil society and private sector, are involved.

The project is implemented by the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology in cooperation with the UNDP and with the financial support of Global Environment Facility. Co-financing and technical expertise are provided by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara Chamber of Industry, İstanbul Chamber of Industry, Association of Electric Motor Producers, AEMOT A.Ş., Arçelik A.Ş., GAMAK A.Ş., VOLT. A.Ş.

“The market transformation of energy-efficient motors will enable producers to technologically renew their products and catch up with export opportunities in the world markets where energy-efficient motors are more widely used,” says İbrahim Yıldırım, Chairman of the Association of Electric Motor Producers.