Electricity in Turkey in 2023/2024

Turkey's current state of electricity consumption shows a substantial reliance on both fossil fuels and low-carbon energy sources over the 12 months from August 2023 to July 2024. More than half of the electricity generated, about 53%, comes from fossil energy, with coal and gas contributing nearly 34% and 18%, respectively. On the other hand, low-carbon or clean energy makes up around 46% of the country's electricity supply. Among the low-carbon sources, hydropower accounts for the largest share at over 22%, followed by wind at approximately 11%, and solar at nearly 8%. Geothermal and biofuels together contribute close to 5%, each making up around 2.5%. This balanced distribution indicates significant progress towards reducing carbon emissions, although fossil fuels still dominate.

Suggestions

To further increase its low-carbon electricity generation, Turkey can focus on expanding its existing wind power infrastructure, given that wind already contributes a notable amount to the electricity mix. Learning from countries with successful low-carbon strategies could provide valuable insights. Denmark, for instance, generates 61% of its electricity from wind. Emulating such high efficiency in wind energy could significantly boost Turkey's clean energy share. Additionally, many countries like France, Slovakia, and Ukraine use nuclear power to meet over half of their electricity needs. Especially relevant are neighboring countries like Bulgaria and Armenia, generating 42% and 30% of their electricity from nuclear energy, respectively. By investing in nuclear technology, Turkey can substantially increase its low-carbon electricity generation, mitigate adverse climate impacts, and reduce air pollution associated with fossil fuels.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity in Turkey, particularly hydropower, has seen significant fluctuations over the decades. Starting in the late 1980s, there were notable increases with 6.7 TWh and 10.3 TWh added in 1987 and 1988 but also significant declines like the 11 TWh drop in 1989. The 1990s and early 2000s saw similar patterns, with significant surges such as 10.8 TWh in 2004 coupled with declines like the 6.5 TWh drop in 2005. The trend continued into more recent years, highlighted by a sharp increase of 28.9 TWh in 2019 before suffering a decline of 22.3 TWh in 2021. However, the last year showed a recovery with an 8.8 TWh increase in hydropower and a notable 6.7 TWh rise in solar energy. This historical data underscores the need for stable investments and policy frameworks that support the consistent growth of low-carbon energy sources, particularly nuclear, wind, and solar.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources