The municipality of Güroymak in Turkey’s Bitlis province has received funding for a feasibility study on a geothermal greenhouse project. The Eastern Anatolia Development Agency (DAKA) approved the application under the first round of its 2026 Feasibility Study Support Program.
Key points:
- Project scope — feasibility study for a geothermal resource-based greenhouse within a specialized organized industrial zone (TDIOSB).
- Location — Güroymak district, Bitlis province, Turkey.
- Applicant — Güroymak municipality, with private sector partners.
- Current stage — preliminary research only; construction has not begun.
What DAKA Actually Approved
According to thinkgeoenergy.com, the municipality submitted a proposal titled “Feasibility Study for Güroymak Agriculture-Based Greenhouse (Geothermal Resource-Based) Specialized Organized Industrial Zone.” The project envisions a specialized organized industrial zone — designated in Turkish classification as TDIOSB — built around geothermal resources to support greenhouse-based agricultural production.
Güroymak Mayor Eşref Mutlu confirmed that the municipality has completed initial surveys, while private sector partners are conducting parallel site assessments. DAKA’s support covers the feasibility study phase specifically, and its findings will form the basis for decisions on next steps.
Why Güroymak and Why Greenhouses
The Güroymak district in Bitlis has been working to put its geothermal resources to use in agriculture. The logic is straightforward: heat drawn from geothermal wells warms greenhouses, enabling year-round cultivation of vegetables and greens through cold seasons without burning fossil fuels.
The specialized organized industrial zone format allows the municipality to collaborate with private investors on a shared site within a defined legal and infrastructure framework.
Why This Is Not Yet Construction
The source material is explicit on this point: DAKA’s decision does not mean the industrial zone has been established or that the investment has entered the implementation phase. This is funding for preliminary research. The outcomes of that research will drive decisions on economic viability, further financing sources, and project timelines.
Lessons for Ukrainian Communities
The Güroymak case illustrates how local authorities can build a systematic chain: resource — feasibility — industrial zone — tenants. For Ukrainian communities exploring energy development models beyond conventional electricity generation, the approach itself is the key takeaway: start with a rigorous feasibility study, not declarations.
If the feasibility study confirms the economics, the project could serve as a reference point for other Turkish provinces with similar geothermal potential — and a benchmark for Ukrainian communities weighing agricultural applications of geothermal heat. The immediate milestones to watch are the next DAKA program rounds and the public report on research findings.
Sources: thinkgeoenergy.com
Prepared by the Alternative Energy editorial team with the help of AI based on the sources listed; facts and figures were checked against them during automated editorial review. How we prepare articles
