Newsroom
Turkey is rapidly positioning itself as one of the region’s biggest renewable energy players, with experts saying the country is now outpacing parts of Europe in battery storage development and clean energy growth.
A new report by energy think tank Ember found that Turkey has built one of Europe’s largest battery storage pipelines, surpassing any single EU country after introducing rules linking new wind and solar projects to battery systems.
The move triggered a wave of investment applications totaling 221 gigawatts within months, with 33 gigawatts already approved.
According to the report, countries such as Germany and Italy currently sit at around 12 to 13 gigawatts of battery storage pipelines, while Turkey’s planned capacity now equals roughly 83 percent of its existing wind and solar power generation.
Experts say the country is quietly becoming a renewable energy leader across the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Wind and solar energy now account for 22 percent of Turkey’s electricity generation, making it the only country in the wider region to pass the 20 percent mark.
Turkey is also home to one of the world’s largest solar power facilities, the Kalyon Karapınar Solar Power Plant, which spans an area equal to around 2,600 football fields and contains roughly 3.5 million solar panels.
The massive site, which began generating electricity in 2023, produces enough clean energy each year to power a city of around two million people.
Its futuristic-looking control center, designed by Bilgin Architects, has also attracted attention online, with social media users comparing the facility to something out of a science fiction film.
Still, experts warn Turkey’s energy transition is far from complete.
Coal remains the country’s biggest source of electricity at 34 percent, and much of that depends on imported fuel. Analysts say Turkey will need to nearly triple its current wind and solar capacity to meet its 2035 renewable energy targets.
But with the country preparing to host the COP31 climate summit later this year, experts say Turkey is increasingly showing the potential to become a renewable energy pioneer for the wider region.
*Source: Euronews
