Currently, the electricity consumption landscape in Turkey presents a significant dependency on fossil fuels, which account for just over half of the electricity generated. Specifically, coal and natural gas are the major fossil contributors, with coal alone representing more than a third of the electricity output. In contrast, the remainder of the electricity is sourced from low-carbon technologies like hydropower, which makes up almost a quarter, and wind and solar energy. Wind and solar contribute significant shares of 11% and 8%, respectively. Other clean sources such as geothermal and biofuels add marginally to the low-carbon total. Despite the progress in integrating low-carbon sources, Turkey's electricity generation still relies heavily on fossil fuels, which highlights the urgency of enhancing clean electricity to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change and air pollution.
Is Electricity Growing in Turkey?
When examining the growth of electricity consumption in Turkey, there is a clear upward trajectory. The year 2024 saw a consumption rate of 3917 kWh per person, which marked an increase from the previous record of 3782 kWh per person in 2021. This change signifies a positive growth of 135 kWh per person in overall electricity use. In parallel, low-carbon electricity generation has also seen a considerable rise. With the latest figure standing at 1784 kWh per person, up by 232 kWh from the previous peak recorded in 2019, it demonstrates a robust development in clean electricity sources. Such trends are encouraging as they suggest that Turkey is on the right path toward increasing the share of sustainable energy in its national electricity consumption, which is vital for meeting future demand.
Suggestions
To further enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, Turkey should prioritize expanding its existing wind energy capabilities. Observing successful examples, Denmark generates over half of its electricity from wind power, showcasing the substantial potential of this clean energy source. In addition, nuclear energy could play a crucial role, as evidenced by countries such as France, Slovakia, and Ukraine, where nuclear generates upwards of half the electricity. These examples illustrate the feasibility and benefits of investing in both wind and nuclear energy. Turkey can also draw lessons from neighboring Greece and Spain, who have made significant strides in solar power, making solar another promising area for development. By learning from these success stories and increasing investments in clean technologies, Turkey can reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and progress towards a more sustainable energy future.
History
Reflecting on the history of low-carbon electricity generation in Turkey reveals a trend of fluctuations, particularly in hydropower with substantial variations over the decades. In the late 1980s, early 1990s, and the 2010s, hydropower saw notable increases, followed by various declines. The early 2010s witnessed both significant increases and decreases, with 2015 seeing an exceptional growth of 26.5 TWh. However, early 2020s hydropower experienced yet another decrease before rebounding in 2022 and 2024. Meanwhile, solar energy generation in 2024 grew by 7.3 TWh over the previous year, indicating its rapid uptake as a viable energy source for the future. It is crucial for Turkey to maintain and enhance its investments in both reliable hydro and the burgeoning solar sector to stabilize and grow its low-carbon electricity generation. Such efforts will be essential to further reducing fossil fuel dependency and creating a cleaner, more resilient energy system.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.