NEWSROOM

The Global Wind Energy Council indicates that by the end of 2023, the era of terawatt-scale global wind energy capacity will begin, with Turkey standing out as Europe’s fifth-largest wind industry. The company that initiated wind energy equipment production and export in Turkey is gearing up to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024.

TURKEY - While investments in clean and renewable energy are gaining momentum in Turkey, according to the Turkish Wind Energy Association (TÜREB) data, wind energy’s share in electricity production has exceeded 11% with over 12 gigawatts of installed capacity. Turkey, hosting Europe’s fifth-largest wind industry, has also reached 44 countries with the export of wind energy equipment. Çolak Holding, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024, has played a pioneering role in converting wind into energy in Turkey and has been a key player in developing the wind industry with its SoyutWind brand. 

Hasan Çolak, the Founder and Honorary Chairman of Çolak Holding, who shared the 50th-anniversary messages, stated, "As a mechanical engineer, I am proud to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Çolak Holding and our registered brand 'SOYUT,' which has been primarily engaged in machine production and engineering sectors since its establishment, as well as in construction-contracting, energy, finance, and foreign trade industries. Founded in 1974 and taking on a leading role in the development of wind energy in our country in the early 2000s when the legal framework had not yet been established, Çolak Holding and our subsidiary in the energy sector, SoyutWind, are pleased with the position the industry has reached. As we enter the new century of our Republic, we are proud to celebrate our 50th anniversary.”

They produced Turkey’s first wind turbine and exported it

According to TÜREB data, it was observed that Turkey exports 75% of the wind equipment it produces. Furthermore, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) predicts that by the end of 2023, global installed capacity will reach 1 terawatt, marking the beginning of the terawatt era in wind energy. Hasan Çolak emphasised the significant role of Turkey’s wind energy equipment exports in increasing the share of energy generated from wind. 

"We, as Çolak Holding, began wind turbine production in 2000. Under the SoyutWind brand, in 2004, we successfully produced the first 250-kilowatt unlicensed wind turbine, being the pioneer and the first exporter of this product. We find the path that Turkey has covered in the field of wind energy in 20 years to be remarkable. SoyutWind, the brand of Çolak Holding focused on the wind industry, crowns this success with pioneering achievements. In 2020, we became the first company to produce a 50-kilowatt domestic permanent magnet generator (PMG). In the same year, we started manufacturing home-type wind turbines to meet the increasing user demand. At the same time, due to the rising costs of producing new wind turbines, we provide repair, service, and maintenance services for second-hand refurbished turbines, which are often sought after by those looking to invest in wind energy," he said.

“Independent, Sustainable, and Clean Living”

Hasan Çolak, emphasizing their work in various energy sectors such as coal-fired power plants, hydroelectric power plants, and solar energy since 1974, stated, "We started our R&D activities with a German team in 1998 and produced Turkey's first wind turbine in 2000. Although the tests and trials were quite challenging, we were rewarded for our efforts. Recently, after about 2 years of R&D work, we have turned to producing small-capacity home wind turbines under the SoyutWind brand. Because there is an increasing demand from individual users. Home turbines, which allow everyone to start generating clean energy by installing 3, 5, 10 kilowatt wind turbines in their own homes, allow individuals to live a more independent, sustainable, and clean life. In addition to this, our mechanical water pumps that run on wind power, manufactured under the Soyut WindMill brand, meet the water needs of homes, farmers, and irrigation cooperatives, and our mobile living spaces produced under the Soyut Karavan brand support the idea of an independent, eco-friendly, sustainable, and clean life.”

Training female engineers for the wind industry in its 50th year

Çolak Holding Founder and Honorary Chairman Hasan Çolak emphasised the significant contribution of hardworking, qualified engineers who graduated from Turkey’s top universities behind the successes achieved in 50 years. He concluded his 50th-year assessment with the following statements: 

“Operating with adopted ethical values and a ‘clean technology, clean society’ approach, Çolak Holding believes that sustainable prosperity can only be achieved in this way. As we celebrate our 50th year in 2024, we will focus on clean technologies, environmentally friendly product R&D efforts, and venture capital investments in different regions of Turkey and globally. Additionally, in our 50th year as a company that creates employment through local technology production and is aware of the social responsibilities of leading companies, we will initiate a social responsibility project to increase the number of female engineers in Turkey. We hope to see more women contributing to the Turkish industry by pursuing engineering education. In this context, we are preparing a basic program allowing pre-university girls to learn wind turbine production. In a time when global efforts for a sustainable and green future are increasing, Çolak Holding, SoyutWind, and our other subsidiaries will continue to support the installed wind energy capacity of both our country and the world through product and export,” said Çolak Holding Founder and Honorary Chairman Hasan Çolak.