Renewable energy in Turkey


Although there are plenty of renewable resources for energy in Turkey, only hydropower has been much developed, averaging about a fifth of national electricity supply. However because this is vulnerable to droughts less electricity than usual is from hydro in those recent years, compared to around a third in a wet year. The country is aiming for two thirds of electricity to be from renewables by 2023 but Turkey has invested less in solar and wind power than similar Mediterranean countries. Turkey needs a renewable energy plan beyond 2023 which includes transport, industry, heating and cooling as well as electricity generation. Turkey is a net exporter of wind power equipment but a net importer of solar power equipment.

Solar energy

Year2015201720192023
MW3001,8003,0005,000

Solar energy potential in Turkey is 977,000 from which 6105 is technically possible. According to modelling by Carbon Tracker new solar power became cheaper than new coal power in 2020, and will become cheaper than existing coal plants in 2023.

Wind power

Wind energy technical potential is 290 TWh/year. According to another industry source the total installed power reached 5.789 GW by year end 2016 and the percentage of electricity consumption provided by wind power grew from under 1%, in 2009 to 5.59% by 2016 and is forecast to reach 12% of electricity consumption with the completion of planned facilities. According to modelling by Carbon Tracker new wind power became cheaper than new coal power in 2020, and will become cheaper than existing coal plants in 2027.

Bioenergy

Biomass is also a major renewable energy resource in Turkey as the biomass economical potential of Turkey is 8.6 mtoe/year.

Hydroelectricity

Many dams have been built throughout the country, and about 23GW of power can be generated by hydroelectric plants. There are many projects currently in progress, such as the Southeastern Anatolia Project, which will allow generation of 15GW through hydroelectric energy. Technical potential of hydraulic energy is 216 TWh/year and economical potential is 127.4 TWh/year.

Geothermal power in Turkey

Turkey is ranked seventh richest country in the world in geothermal potential. Turkey reaches milestone 1,100 MW of installed geothermal power generation capacity in December 2017. Turkey is fourth largest in the world in 2018 when it comes to installed capacity after United States.

Storage and integration

Increasing Turkey's proportion of electric cars in use to 10% by 2030 would help integrate variable electricity.

Employment, industrial production, and balance of trade

60,000 people are employed as of 2020 and it is estimated employment could be boosted to 80,000 if rooftop solar is boosted.