At Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, which currently holds the KOP Term Presidency, a promotional meeting was held for the Hydrogen Heating System Solar Power Plant (GES) Hydro-Greenhouse Pilot Implementation Project. The meeting took place on April 16, 2025, in the Senate Hall of KAEU. Attending the meeting were the Rector of KAEU Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil, President of the Konya Plain Project (KOP) Regional Development Administration Dr. Murat Karakoyunlu, Vice Rectors of KAEU Prof. Dr. Ali Güneş, Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Şimşek, and Prof. Dr. Musa Özata, provincial directors, project coordinators, KOP officials, academic and administrative staff, and members of the press.
Before the meeting, KOP President Dr. Murat Karakoyunlu and his delegation visited the Rector of KAEU Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil. During the visit, evaluations were made regarding the projects to be carried out during KAEU’s KOP Term Presidency.
Following the visit, the promotional meeting for the Hydrogen Heating System GES Hydro-Greenhouse Pilot Implementation Project took place. The meeting held in the Senate Hall began with a speech by the Rector of KAEU Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil, who stated that the UNIKOP Term Presidency would be held at KAEU for two years. He emphasized that Kırşehir Ahi Evran University was involved in initiatives that contributed to the development of the province and the region. Rector Karahocagil also noted that during the term of presidency, they would maintain communication and cooperation with the regional universities. Highlighting the significant work KOP has undertaken in the region and the province, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil added that KAEU, too, will carry out meaningful and successful projects. He concluded by wishing for a productive meeting and thanked everyone who contributed to the process.
Following the speech by the Rector of KAEU, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil, KOP President Dr. Murat Karakoyunlu took the floor and congratulated KAEU on its two-year UNIKOP Term Presidency. Emphasizing that regional development activities are vital for the advancement of both the country and its regions, Dr. Karakoyunlu stated that in supporting projects, the potential of the region is taken as the primary criterion. He noted that academic opinion is also highly valued in the implementation of projects and highlighted that the GES-Supported Hydro-Greenhouse, introduced at KAEU, is the first of its kind in Türkiye. Expressing his satisfaction with working with Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, Karakoyunlu wished for a productive meeting.
Following the speeches, the project coordinator, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hakan Başak from the Faculty of Agriculture at KAEU, presented the Hydrogen Heating System GES Hydrosera Pilot Implementation Project. Başak stated that the GES-Supported Hydro-Greenhouse is being implemented for the first time in Türkiye at KAEU. Within the scope of the project, a 79 kW capacity Solar Power Plant (GES) and a next-generation hydrogen plasma heating system for greenhouse heating were installed in the university's R&D greenhouse. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hakan Başak noted that the first products have already been harvested from the R&D greenhouse using this system and emphasized that the project has also achieved significant savings in electricity costs.
Later, KAEU Vice Rector and Quality Management Coordinator Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Şimşek gave a presentation titled "Establishing the Quality Management System in Universities and the Integrated Quality Management System." This was followed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. İsmail Demir, who introduced the projects of KAEU that have been accepted by KOP or are planned to be submitted.
At the end of the meeting, KAEU R&D Greenhouse, where the ongoing project was evaluated on site. The visit was attended by Kırşehir Governor Murat Sefa Demiryürek, KAEU Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil, and KOP Regional Development Administration President Dr. Murat Karakoyunlu, who received detailed information about the project.
Within the scope of the Konya Plain Project (KOP) Region Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program, the “Hydrogen Heating System Solar Energy System Hydro-Greenhouse Pilot Implementation Project” is being carried out at the R&D greenhouse of KAEU's Geothermal Advanced Greenhouse Technologies and Production Techniques Joint Application and Research Center (JİSTUAM). As part of the project, a 79 kW capacity Solar Power Plant (GES) and a next-generation hydrogen plasma heating system for greenhouse heating have been installed in the KAEU R&D greenhouse. The sustainable electrical energy generated from the sun through the GES is converted into heat using the environmentally friendly hydrogen plasma heating system and utilized for heating the greenhouses. The Hydrogen Heating System supported by GES has achieved significant success by being used for the first time in both Türkiye and the world at Kırşehir Ahi Evran University R&D greenhouse. The system provides a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative heating method for greenhouses. The project aims to assess the performance and cost-effectiveness of this hydrogen plasma heating system supported by GES in comparison to natural gas and geothermal heating systems. After one year of implementation, the project has already resulted in significant savings in electricity costs.
The Project Coordinator, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hakan Başak from the Faculty of Agriculture, stated that the first crops have been harvested from the R&D greenhouse and provided information to local protocol members during the presentation about the installation, operation, and efficiency of the Hydrosera system.
