Turkey’s Pioneering Gas Power Plant Renewed For The Future – OpEd

Turkey’s first-ever gas-fired combined cycle power plant, Hamitabat CCPP, has been transformed through a sweeping modernization project that positions it among the nation’s most efficient and environmentally friendly power stations.

Originally commissioned in 1985, the Hamitabat plant marked a milestone in Turkey’s energy history as the country’s earliest large-scale gas power facility[^1]. But by the mid-2010s, the plant faced aging equipment and declining efficiency, prompting a €520 million investment to bring it up to modern standards[^2].

Completed in late 2017 and re-commissioned in January 2018, the upgraded plant now boasts an installed capacity of around 1,220 megawatts[^3]. This was made possible through cutting-edge technology supplied by Siemens, including two advanced SGT5‑8000H gas turbines paired with SST5‑5000 steam turbines and high-efficiency heat recovery steam generators (HRSG)[^4].

As a result of the overhaul, Hamitabat’s thermal efficiency climbed to nearly 60 percent[^5], significantly improving fuel use and reducing emissions per unit of electricity generated. In 2024 alone, the plant produced approximately 5.7 billion kilowatt-hours of power[^6]—helping meet the energy needs of the industrially vibrant Marmara region.

The facility is jointly owned by Limak Holding (75%) and French infrastructure fund InfraMed (25%)[^7]. Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) were led by Gama Power Systems, while Siemens continues to operate and maintain the plant under a long-term agreement[^8].

Despite sometimes being called “new,” the Hamitabat CCPP is better described as a landmark renovation of a historic plant—modernizing an icon of Turkey’s energy landscape and ensuring its role in the country’s power grid for years to come.

References

[^1]: Limak Holding, Hamitabat Natural Gas Combined Cycle Power Plant, limak.com.tr

[^2]: Power Technology, Hamitabat Power Plant Profile, power-technology.com

[^3]: Berksan Mühendislik, Hamitabat 1200 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant, berksan.com

[^4]: Siemens AG, Project references and press materials, siemens.com

[^5]: Kavas, A. & Cihan, A., “Energy and exergy analysis of the 1220 MW natural gas-fired Hamitabat combined cycle power plant,” International Journal of Energy Studies, 2023. dergipark.org.tr

[^6]: Limak Holding annual report, 2024

[^7]: InfraMed Infrastructure, Project portfolio, inframed.com

[^8]: Gama Holding, Project list, holding.gama.com.tr