Turkiye’s solar, wind power shares surge over past decade
AgenciesThe shares of solar and wind power in Türkiye’s electricity generation increased sharply over the past decade, reaching 11.6% and 12.1%, respectively, by this July, the Ene...
The share of solar and wind power in Türkiye's electricity generation has surged over the past decade, reaching 11.6% and 12.1% respectively as of July 2023, according to the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry. Solar power's contribution grew 28-fold, from 0.4% in 2016 to 11.6% in 2023, while wind power's share increased from 5.7% to 12.1% over the same period.
This significant shift in renewable energy generation was driven by a major acceleration in Türkiye's investments in solar and wind under the National Energy and Mining Policy introduced in 2016. The policy was initiated by then-Energy Minister Berat Albayrak. The expansion in renewable energy capacity was accompanied by a substantial increase in installed capacity.
By the end of July 2023, Türkiye's total electricity generation capacity had reached 126,476 megawatts (MW). Solar accounted for 27,507 MW, or 21.7% of the total installed capacity, while wind capacity reached 15,358 MW, representing 12.1% of the total.
Türkiye's total solar and wind capacity stood at 42,865 MW, which accounted for 33.8% of the country's total installed electricity capacity. In July 2023, solar power generation set a new monthly record, generating 5.37 billion kilowatt-hours, which was the highest monthly level on record. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak attributed this transformation to a 28-fold increase in solar's share in electricity generation and a rise in wind's share to 12.1%.
He noted that the combined installed capacity in solar and wind has reached approximately 43,000 megawatts.
Bayraktar emphasized that these changes are a step towards Türkiye's goal of full energy independence and a cleaner energy future. He also added that Türkiye plans to build on its renewable energy progress through new targets to be presented at the upcoming COP31 climate conference in Antalya, scheduled for November. Albayrak stated that the country will continue converting its wind and solar resources into energy for its people and building strong infrastructure to ensure reliable, clean, and affordable energy for everyone.
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