Turkey Green Energy and Clean Technologies

Renewable energy is a Turkish government priority.  Currently, Turkey spends more than $50 billion annually on imported oil, natural gas, and coal, in place of using its indigenous energy resources. 

Turkey prioritizes renewable energy over thermal power plants in its clean energy transition.The Turkish government has plans to integrate nuclear energy as part of its energy mix. Turkish parliament ratified the Paris climate agreement in October 2021, which will catalyze adoption of green energy and clean technology solutions in Turkey. Following the ratification, the Turkish government approved a goal to reach net zero emissions by 2053.

Turkey is Europe’s 6th largest electricity market with 100 GW installed capacity. Turkey ranks 9th in the world in hydroelectric capacity (31 GW); 13th in the world in wind energy capacity (10 GW); 16th in the world in solar energy capacity (7 GW); and 4th in the world in geothermal energy capacity (2 GW). 54 percent of total installed capacity consists of renewable power plants. 

Harsh winter conditions, a drought in 2021, and a shortage of gas supply in January 2022 showed the importance of increasing the capacities of wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass energy power plants. Turkey is expected to invest more than $10 billion in renewable energy by the end of 2023. Turkey is considering investment in small modular reactor technology, which may meet a portion of the eight percent per year growth in energy demand. SMRs may also be instrumental to replacing power plants that use imported coal, as well as lignite power plants. SMRs have many advantages over large nuclear power plants, such as small physical footprints, reduced capital investments, site flexibility, and distinct safety, security, and nonproliferation advantages.

Turkey is the second best country in Europe for solar power generation based on solar intensity and availability, yielding opportunity for development in addition to existing solar power plants. There also exists strong untapped potential for offshore wind development as Turkey is surrounded by the Black Sea, Marmara Sea, Aegean Sea, and Mediterranean Sea. Small modular reactors and energy storage solutions provide additional opportunities for growth. Implementation of smart grid technology will provide increased energy efficiency for the indigenous power generated from these clean sources.

Events that may be of interest are:  April 5-6, 2022: Small Modular Reactor Forum (U.S.-Turkey-Turkmenistan-Ukraine-Uzbekistan); and May 23-25, 2022: DistribuTech & PowerGen International, Dallas, TX.

For more information, contact Commercial Specialist Serdar Cetinkaya at Serdar.Cetinkaya@trade.gov.