Electricity in Turkey in 2023/2024

Over the course of the last twelve months, from August 2023 to July 2024, Turkey's electricity consumption has shown a notable split between fossil fuels and clean energy. Fossil fuels, led by coal and gas, supplied just over half of the electricity with coal accounting for roughly 34% and gas contributing around 18%. Clean energy sources made up almost half, at 46.45%, and were driven primarily by hydropower, which provided about 22%. Wind and solar also played significant roles, generating approximately 11% and 8% of the electricity respectively. Geothermal and biofuels made minor contributions, each essentially rounding out the low-carbon mix with about 3% each.

Suggestions

To enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, Turkey should continue to expand its wind energy capabilities, which are already making significant contributions. Learning from countries with high wind energy penetration like Denmark, where wind provides over 60% of the electricity, could be particularly beneficial. Additionally, the success of nuclear power in countries with similar energy demands, like France and Bulgaria, where nuclear power accounts for 67% and 42% of electricity respectively, cannot be overlooked. Implementing and expanding nuclear energy alongside increasing the installed capacity of wind and solar can significantly reduce dependence on fossil fuels and thus lower the environmental impacts of electricity generation.

History

Turkey's journey towards low-carbon electricity has witnessed various transformations over the years. From the late 1980s through the 1990s, hydroelectric power saw fluctuations, with significant increases in years like 1988 (+10.3 TWh) and 1993 (+7.4 TWh), but also notable declines such as in 1989 (-11 TWh). The 2000s brought similarly mixed results, with substantial improvements in 2002 (+9.7 TWh) and 2004 (+10.8 TWh) countered by decreases like in 2005 (-6.5 TWh). Moving into the 2010s, hydro saw massive growth, particularly in 2015 (+26.5 TWh) and 2019 (+28.9 TWh), yet faced setbacks afterward. The recent addition of solar capacity in 2023/2024 contributed an additional 6.7 TWh. Maintaining this growth and stability in low-carbon electricity sources, particularly by prioritizing the reliable expansion of nuclear, wind, and solar, is essential for Turkey's future energy security.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources