In 2025, Turkey's electricity consumption showcases a mixed reliance on both fossil and low-carbon sources. More than half of Turkey's electricity, about 55%, comes from fossil fuels, combining significant contributions from coal at nearly 33% and gas at around 21%. However, Turkey is making commendable strides in low-carbon electricity, generating a substantial 45% of its electricity from clean sources. Hydropower takes the lead within the low-carbon category at nearly 17%, followed by solar at 12%, and wind at 11%. While biofuels and geothermal energy make up a small portion with each contributing roughly 2.5%, there is room for growth in these categories. The shift towards low-carbon energy sources is a positive trend, but there's still work to be done to further reduce reliance on fossil fuels and tackle environmental concerns such as climate change and air pollution.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, IEA and World Bank. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Turkey?
Electricity consumption in Turkey is currently on an upward trajectory. The latest figures indicate an increase in total electricity consumption, reaching 3935 kWh per person in 2025, up from the previous high of 3841 kWh per person in 2024. This increase of 94 kWh per person reflects rising demand and potentially growing economic activity. However, it's worrying that low-carbon electricity generation saw a slight decline. In 2025, low-carbon electricity generation per person is recorded at 1777 kWh, a small decrease from the 1793 kWh in 2024, translating to a drop of 16 kWh. To address growing electricity demands in an environmentally sustainable manner, it is crucial Turkey reverses this trend and boosts its share of low-carbon energy to meet future needs in a clean and sustainable way.
Suggestions
To amplify low-carbon electricity generation, Turkey should look at expanding its wind and solar capacities further. These technologies are already significant in Turkey, and focusing on them can yield even greater clean energy generation. Additionally, exploring nuclear energy as a pivotal component of Turkey's electricity mix would be beneficial, given the success seen in similar regions. For example, countries like France and Slovakia rely heavily on nuclear, generating around two-thirds of their electricity from this source. Denmark's remarkable 60% electricity generation from wind offers an inspiring model for scaling wind energy. By learning from these regions, Turkey can accelerate its clean energy transition and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, meeting its growing energy needs sustainably.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity in Turkey shows a dynamic, though sometimes inconsistent, journey primarily influenced by hydropower. In the late 1980s and into the 1990s, hydropower faced several ups and downs with significant shifts year to year. The early 2000s marked another phase with hydroelectricity either decreasing or booming, notably with 2004 observing a substantial growth of 10.8 TWh. However, recent years have continued to see fluctuations, punctuated by significant declines particularly in 2021. In contrast, solar energy has shown promising growth, with a notable increase in 2024 and 2025 as more solar power plants are coming online. This highlight points to the importance of diversifying Turkey’s low-carbon electricity portfolio, incorporating consistent investment in solar as well as nuclear to provide stable and sustainable power.
