Solar energy potential of eastern black sea region of Turkey: A case study for Trabzon Province

In electricity generation, there is a tendency towards renewable energy sources in order to supply the increased electricity demand and in an effort to generate electricity with less environmental damages. The Sun is a significant renewable energy source and photovoltaic (PV) panels are one of the most commonly used systems in electricity generation by utilizing solar energy. Germany is the leader country in the world in terms of installed PV watt per capita. In this paper, potential of electricity generation by utilizing solar energy in Trabzon Province has been studied and compared with that of Germany. Solar energy data of Trabzon Province, which is provided from four different sources, have been presented and amount of electricity power that can be generated by PV systems in Trabzon Province have been given. By presenting the PV power plant examples from Germany, the quantity of electricity that can be generated in case of the same systems installed in Trabzon Province have been given. By analyzing the obtained data, it is aimed to create awareness about the potential of electricity generation from solar energy in Province of Trabzon in Turkey and to subvert prejudices about the solar energy potential in Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey.