As investments in energy infrastructure accelerate worldwide, a search for new suppliers has begun in many areas, from transmission equipment to energy storage systems. According to Girişim Elektrik Chairman Behiç Harmanlı, this transformation represents one of the most significant industrial opportunities for Turkey in recent years.
For years, the global energy sector focused on production capacity. But today, the picture is changing. Data center projects accelerated by artificial intelligence investments, the spread of electric transportation, growth in renewable energy plants, and the need to renew existing grids are bringing investments in transmission, distribution, and storage to the center of the energy agenda alongside production.
Stating that this transformation in the energy sector concerns not only energy companies but also industrial manufacturers, Girişim Elektrik Chairman Behiç Harmanlı said the world has entered a new investment cycle.
"Today, in many countries, the main problem hindering energy investments is not financing, but access to equipment and engineering capacity. There is serious demand in a wide range of areas, from power transformers to switchgear systems, energy storage solutions to high-voltage equipment. Moreover, these equipment are now equipped with smart systems; we actively use these solutions that offer remote monitoring and control in our projects. This takes demand beyond being limited to hardware and brings it to a dimension shaped by technology. This creates significant opportunities for countries with strong production infrastructure."
"A HISTORIC INDUSTRIAL WINDOW HAS OPENED FOR TURKEY"
Harmanlı, who stated that Turkey has built significant expertise in energy equipment production in recent years, said that the energy transformation is not only about electricity generation.
"Today, producing the transformer that will carry that energy, the switchgear system that will manage it, and the battery infrastructure that will store it has become as strategic as installing a solar power plant. The unseen side of the energy transformation is actually happening here. At this point, there is a significant opportunity ahead for Turkey."
Harmanlı emphasized that the acceleration of investments in energy infrastructure on a global scale has initiated a new era for high value-added industrial production, and stated that Turkish companies are beginning to take on more roles not only regionally but also in global projects.
"IT IS NO LONGER ENOUGH TO JUST PRODUCE ENERGY"
Harmanlı, who noted that energy storage systems in particular will be one of the most critical investment areas of the coming period, said:
"As renewable energy investments grow, the importance of storage technologies also increases. It is no longer enough to just produce energy; it is necessary to use it at the right time and keep the grid balanced. Therefore, battery systems, energy management software, and storage solutions are among the new growth areas of the energy sector."
In this context, Harmanlı stated that a significant portion of the investments made within the group in recent years have focused on energy infrastructure and storage technologies, and that the integrated production structure extending from solar panel production to battery systems, power transformers to high-voltage equipment has been shaped considering the needs of the future.
"COMPETITION IS NOW IN CAPACITY, NOT PRICE"
Harmanlı, emphasizing that the global energy transformation is creating a new supplier map, concluded his words as follows:
"In the coming period, competition in the energy sector will not be solely based on cost. Production capacity, engineering power, delivery capability, and technology development ability will be decisive. We believe that Turkey's industrial infrastructure in this field will become much more visible. We are preparing for this new era with the investments we make."
