Turkey Reaches 62% Renewable Energy Capacity

Turkey has reached a significant climate milestone. According to statements by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, climate-friendly renewable energy sources now account for 62% of the country’s total installed electricity capacity. This achievement places Turkey among leading nations accelerating the global clean energy transition.

For readers of Natural World 50, this development reflects a broader global transformation reshaping energy systems, investment flows, and climate strategies worldwide.

How Did Turkey Reach 62% Renewable Energy Capacity?

The growth did not happen overnight. Over the past decade, Turkey has strategically invested billions of dollars into renewable infrastructure. The expansion includes:

• Large-scale solar power plants
• Onshore and offshore wind farms
• Hydropower facilities
• Geothermal energy projects
• Biomass energy installations

Turkey’s total installed electricity capacity exceeds 100 gigawatts (GW). With 62% coming from renewables, approximately 62 GW now originate from climate-clean sources. The largest contributions come from hydropower and wind energy, followed by rapidly expanding solar capacity.

Investment Costs: What Is the Price in Dollars?

Transitioning to renewable energy requires substantial capital investment. Turkey has invested an estimated $80–100 billion USD over the past decade in renewable energy infrastructure.

Average costs per technology (global benchmarks):

• Solar power: $800,000 – $1,000,000 per MW
• Wind power: $1.2 – $1.5 million per MW
• Hydropower: $1 – $3 million per MW
• Geothermal: $2 – $5 million per MW

These investments have reduced long-term electricity generation costs and lowered dependence on imported fossil fuels, which previously cost Turkey tens of billions of dollars annually.

Why Is Turkey Accelerating Renewable Energy?

1. Energy Security

Turkey imports a large portion of its oil and natural gas. Expanding domestic renewable energy reduces vulnerability to global fuel price volatility and geopolitical risks.

2. Climate Commitments

Turkey ratified the Paris Climate Agreement and aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2053. Increasing renewable energy capacity is central to meeting this target.

3. Economic Benefits

Renewable energy development stimulates job creation, local manufacturing of turbines and panels, and technological innovation.

4. Lower Long-Term Costs

While initial investments are high, renewable energy has near-zero fuel costs. Solar and wind power now rank among the cheapest electricity sources globally.

Solar Energy Expansion

Solar energy has experienced explosive growth. Turkey benefits from strong solar radiation, particularly in central and southern regions. Large solar farms and distributed rooftop systems contribute significantly to capacity expansion.

The cost of solar panels has dropped by more than 80% globally over the past decade, making solar energy economically competitive without heavy subsidies.

Wind Power Growth

Turkey’s western coastal regions provide ideal wind conditions. Wind farms continue to expand, contributing stable electricity production and supporting grid reliability.

Modern wind turbines operate efficiently even at moderate wind speeds, improving output and return on investment.

Hydropower’s Foundational Role

Hydropower remains one of Turkey’s largest renewable energy sources. Existing dams provide both electricity and water management benefits. However, environmental considerations remain important when developing new projects.

Geothermal Leadership in Europe

Turkey ranks among Europe’s leading geothermal energy producers. Geothermal plants provide baseload electricity, meaning they generate consistent power regardless of weather conditions.

Global Context: How Turkey Compares

Globally, renewable energy capacity is increasing rapidly. According to international energy agencies, renewables account for around 30–35% of global electricity generation. Turkey’s 62% installed capacity share positions it ahead of many industrialized nations in terms of capacity structure.

This achievement demonstrates how emerging economies can accelerate climate-friendly energy transitions while maintaining economic growth.

Challenges Ahead

Despite progress, challenges remain:

• Grid modernization and storage expansion
• Energy storage investment (battery systems cost $300–$500 per kWh installed)
• Managing intermittency of solar and wind
• Financing long-term infrastructure projects

Battery storage and smart grid technologies will be critical to increasing renewable penetration beyond 70%.

Impact on Climate and Emissions

Expanding renewables reduces greenhouse gas emissions from coal and natural gas plants. Turkey’s carbon intensity per unit of electricity is gradually declining as renewable share increases.

Cleaner electricity also supports electrification of transportation and industry, further accelerating emissions reductions.

Economic and Investment Outlook

International investors view Turkey’s renewable sector as attractive due to strong growth potential and supportive government policies. Green bonds and sustainable finance mechanisms continue to fund new projects.

The renewable sector could attract an additional $20–30 billion USD in investments by 2030.

Why This Matters for the Global Climate

Climate change requires coordinated international action. When large economies expand renewable energy, it:

• Reduces global fossil fuel demand
• Stabilizes clean technology supply chains
• Encourages regional cooperation
• Accelerates innovation

Turkey’s progress reinforces global climate momentum and demonstrates that renewable energy transformation is both technically feasible and economically viable.

Future Outlook: What Comes Next?

Experts predict Turkey’s renewable share could exceed 70% of installed capacity within the next five years. Key growth areas include:

• Offshore wind development
• Large-scale battery storage
• Green hydrogen production
• Electric vehicle charging infrastructure

Achieving these goals will require continued investment, regulatory stability, and technological advancement.

Conclusion

Turkey’s achievement of 62% renewable installed capacity marks a major milestone in climate action. With billions of dollars invested and ambitious long-term goals, the country is positioning itself as a regional clean energy leader.

For global climate strategy, this progress demonstrates that transitioning to renewable energy is not just an environmental necessity — it is an economic opportunity.

As the world accelerates toward net-zero emissions, Turkey’s renewable expansion provides a powerful example of how and why clean energy transformation is reshaping the future.