In 2025, Turkey's electricity generation landscape featured a significant and concerning reliance on fossil fuels, which made up more than half of its electricity production, precisely 55.42%. Coal was the leading fossil fuel source, constituting almost a third of total electricity. Gas followed, contributing over a fifth. Low-carbon energy sources composed a substantial 44.33% of the mix, indicating a commendable yet insufficient adoption of clean energy. Hydropower was the most prominent low-carbon source, generating nearly 17%, with wind and solar each contributing around 12% and 11%, respectively. Geothermal and biofuels added almost negligible figures, reflective of close to none in the grand scheme. This mix presents both challenges and opportunities, underscoring the necessity for an energy transition geared towards cleaner alternatives.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember, Eurostat, IEA and World Bank. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Turkey?
Turkey's electricity consumption has seen a slight uptick, with the average consumption reaching 3792 kWh per person in 2025, marking an increase of 74 kWh from the previous record in 2024. However, the slight decline in low-carbon electricity generation per person, dropping to 1681 kWh from 1712 kWh, raises concerns. This decrease by 30 kWh per person highlights a backward step in clean energy progress amidst overall consumption growth. It is imperative to see a consistent rise not only in total electricity but significantly in low-carbon generation to ensure sustainable development and meet future electrification demands.
Suggestions
To enhance low-carbon electricity generation, Turkey could capitalize on its already considerable capacity in wind and solar power. Investing further in these technologies, following the examples set by Denmark and Iowa with their wind achievements of 60% and 58%, respectively, can drive substantial progress. Moreover, exploring nuclear energy, which has seen remarkable contributions in countries like France and Slovakia, each achieving over 60% of their electricity from nuclear, could provide Turkey with a reliable and sustainable energy backbone. Learning from these successful regions and committing to overcoming the challenges of integrating more nuclear and solar into the grid will be instrumental to Turkey’s sustainable energy growth.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity generation in Turkey demonstrates a pattern of significant fluctuations, particularly evident in the hydropower sector over the years. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Turkey experienced both substantial growth and sharp declines, with increases like 10.3 TWh in 1988, only to be followed by decreases like 11 TWh in 1989. These erratic patterns continued into the 21st century, culminating in notable swings such as the 15 TWh drop in 2025 after a 28.9 TWh rise in 2019. However, recent efforts in solar energy show promise; in 2024, solar contributed an additional 6.9 TWh, and in 2025 further increased by 10.3 TWh. These developments suggest potential for growth, if harnessed with strategic investments in solar and nuclear power, ensuring Turkey can create a stable and sustainable low-carbon energy future.
