Renewable energy in Turkey
[7]: 21 Solar power could be expanded more quickly if the electricity grid was improved faster and energy policy revised, especially by abolishing fossil fuel subsidies.
If renewables could help phase-out coal by 2030, instead of by the national net zero greenhouse gas emissions target year of 2053, that would have significant health benefits and reduce inflation in Turkey.
Turkey’s sunny climate possesses a high solar energy potential, specifically in the South Eastern Anatolia and Mediterranean regions.
[17]: 9 Every gigawatt of solar power installed would save over US$100 million on gas import costs,[18] and more of the country's electricity might be exported.
[19] Wind power generates about 10% of Turkey's electricity, mainly in the west in the Aegean and Marmara regions, and is gradually becoming a larger share of renewable energy in the country.
Government policies have generally supported building dams, but some are controversial in neighbouring countries, and some raise concerns about damage to the environment and wildlife.
[58] It is estimated that over half of electricity generation could be from renewables by 2026,[59] but Turkey has invested less in solar and wind power than similar Mediterranean countries.
[60] More renewable energy could be used to reduce the nation's greenhouse gas emissions,[61] and thus avoid paying other countries' carbon tariffs.
[67] A 2022 simulation by Shura of typical spring 2030 generation shows that wind and nuclear could provide baseload, and solar much of daytime demand, reserving dammed hydro for evening flexibility.
[7]: 17 Other experts believe that nuclear power will keep the grid stable from fluctuations in variable renewable energy,[68] while some state that more geothermal baseload capacity should be added.
[69] Think tank Ember said in 2022 that Turkey needs to expand renewables at least twice as fast, to decarbonize the electricity sector and lower import bills.
[74] There are feed-in-tariffs in lira (but partly adjusted to USD) per kWh depending on the source and there may be extra if local components are used.
[79] According to the Industrial Development Bank of Turkey, the support fee based on source model depends on transferring money from low-cost solar, wind and hydroelectric power plants to those with high operating expenses, examples of which include imported coal and natural gas.
[79] The World Bank said in 2022 that "the war in Ukraine and attendant energy supply disruptions and price increases highlight risks for countries like Türkiye that rely on fossil fuel imports, underscoring the urgency of climate action in support of energy security and affordability" and proposed a plan to integrate development with action on climate change.
This would enable the country to meet a doubling of energy demand by 2053 to fuel its growth ambitions, with the added benefit of lowering emissions and improving energy security by reducing reliance on imported coal, gas, and oil.Earlier reports from other organisations say that such an expansion of renewables benefits employment,[83] industrial production, and balance of trade.
[65] In 2023 Shura estimated that doubling the capacity of wind and solar compared to 2022 would cut the wholesale cost of electricity by a quarter.
[67] Eser Özdil at the Atlantic Council said in 2022 that interconnectors with the EU need to be greatly increased, and suggested joint electricity projects with Balkan companies.
[89] Increasing export of electricity to the EU has also been proposed but analyst Kadri Taştan pointed out that this depends on "reliable and solid political relations between the two and an ambitious environmental policy in Turkey".
[9] Unlicensed (about 2% of supply and over 90% of which is solar)[92] generators must apply to distribution companies or industrial park license holders in their region for technical checks and approval.
[96][97] Some academics say that governments have not allowed civil society enough say on energy policy, leading to protests against building hydropower, geothermal power, and at least one wind farm.
[6] In 2022 the EU complained about local content requirements, saying that they did not meet World Trade Organization and European Union–Turkey Customs Union rules.
However, burning wood for home heating (classified as "traditional biomass" within academic reports) has been causing indoor air pollution throughout history,[100] and still poses such problems.
[105] Due to deforestation in arid regions, poor communities continued to burn dry dung in some remote villages into the late 20th century.
