Electricity in Turkey in 2023

In 2023, Turkey relied heavily on fossil fuels for its electricity, with more than half of the electricity generated coming from these sources. Specifically, coal accounted for 36% and natural gas for 21%, adding up to a total of about 57%. In contrast, Turkey made significant progress in low-carbon electricity, which constituted around 41% of the country's electricity mix. Hydropower was the largest contributor among the low-carbon sources, providing about 20%, followed by wind at 10%, solar at nearly 6%, and other sources like geothermal and biofuels making up a smaller portion. Overall, Turkey's current green energy landscape reveals a balance that still favors fossil fuels but highlights significant contributions from low-carbon technologies.

Suggestions

To enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, Turkey could focus on expanding its existing wind power infrastructure, given its substantial share in the current mix. Countries with significant success in green energy could serve as valuable models for Turkey. For instance, Denmark generates more than half of its electricity from wind, showing that it is possible to significantly scale up this clean energy source. Similarly, Germany and the United Kingdom, with 27% and 26% of their electricity from wind respectively, demonstrate effective strategies for integrating wind energy into the national grid. Turkey could also consider exploring nuclear energy, as seen in countries with similar economic and geographical characteristics; for example, Bulgaria and Romania generate about 40% and 20% of their electricity from nuclear, respectively. By learning from these countries, Turkey can diversify and strengthen its clean energy portfolio.

History

Turkey's history with low-carbon electricity shows a robust and dynamic development trajectory, particularly in hydropower. The late 1980s experienced significant growth, with notable increases like 10.3 TWh in 1988. However, the 1990s and early 2000s experienced fluctuations, with both significant gains (7.4 TWh in 1993, 9.7 TWh in 2002) and losses (-7.6 TWh in 1999, -6.9 TWh in 2001). From 2010 onwards, the pattern continued with highs such as a remarkable 15.8 TWh increase in 2010 and an extraordinary jump of 28.9 TWh in 2019. Unfortunately, there were also declines, particularly in recent years, with a notable drop of -22.3 TWh in 2021. Despite these inconsistencies in hydropower, Turkey made strides in wind energy, adding 6.4 TWh in 2021, and in the following year, hydropower rebounded with an increase of 11.1 TWh. This historical data underscores the importance of a diversified approach to expanding low-carbon electricity sources.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources