A NEW BALANCE IN ENERGY: THE RISE OF RENEWABLE POWER

The climate crisis, rising energy demand, and geopolitical uncertainties are forcing global energy systems to undergo a fundamental transformation. Production models based on fossil fuels are creating an increasingly fragile structure for countries due to price fluctuations and external dependence. This scenario is accelerating the shift towards more predictable, domestic, and sustainable sources of energy in policies. Hydroelectric, solar, and wind energy are among the key components of this transformation.

Türkiye has achieved significant capacity growth in the renewable energy sector through investments and regulatory reforms over the past twenty years. The largely completed liberalization of the electricity market, a robust infrastructure spanning from production to transmission, and a regulatory framework that offers predictability to investors form the cornerstones of this transformation. Despite rapidly growing demand, the system’s flexibility enables the integration of renewable energy.

According to data from the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Türkiye’s total installed electricity capacity has reached 122,519 MW, of which 76,281 MW comes from renewable sources. The installed capacity of wind and solar energy, approaching approximately 40,000 megawatts, shows that one-third of the 120,000-megawatt target set for 2035 has already been achieved. While this picture shows that Türkiye is progressing steadily on its path to green transformation, expanding the energy portfolio with sustainable sources and rapidly bringing the remaining capacity online is critical to the country’s goal of becoming a clean energy hub. In this regard, continued growth in sector investments will both strengthen energy supply security and accelerate low-carbon growth.

Türkiye’s renewable energy portfolio relies primarily on hydroelectric, solar, and wind sources. While hydroelectric power plants are a key balancing element in the system, the increasing risk of drought due to climate change can cause significant fluctuations in production from year to year. Periods of decline highlight the importance of source diversity.

Solar energy has grown rapidly over the past decade; Türkiye’s installed solar capacity has approached 25,000 MW. Low installation costs and modular construction make solar attractive, but the dependence of production on weather conditions makes system integration critical. At this point, wind energy stands out with its more balanced production characteristics.

“RENEWABLE ENERGY IS NOW A STRATEGIC NECESSITY”

Energy policies today are addressed not only in terms of environmental goals, but also in terms of direct economic resilience and foreign policy balances. Global price fluctuations and geopolitical risks have turned renewable energy from a preference for countries into a strategic necessity. In this context, wind energy is considered one of the key elements that strengthens energy independence with its domestic production capacity.

Türkiye has 14,000 MW of installed wind power capacity. With this capacity, approximately 11% of annual electricity production is met by wind power plants. Of the total annual production of around 350 billion kWh, 36-37 billion kWh is provided by wind energy. According to the National Energy Plan, the 43,000 MW wind power capacity target set for 2035 indicates a need for approximately 30,000 MW of new investment. With electricity consumption expected to increase by an average of 3.5% annually, total demand is projected to reach 500 billion kWh by 2035. During the same period, production from wind energy is expected to rise to 85 billion kWh, increasing its share of total production to 17-18%.

“STORAGE, THE KEY THRESHOLD FOR RENEWABLE TRANSFORMATION”

The production characteristics of renewable resources necessitate complementary solutions that will make the system more flexible and balanced. Fluctuations in production during periods without sun or wind are one of the key factors limiting the share of renewable energy within the system. At this point, storage technologies play a critical role in ensuring production continuity and grid stability, acting as the key threshold for renewable transformation.

The preliminary license capacity granted for storage investments in Türkiye has exceeded 33,000 MW. There is currently approximately $500 million worth of investment in the field. While approximately 2,000 MW of storage capacity is expected to come online in 2026, this contribution is projected to increase exponentially in 2027 and 2028.

“RENEWABLE ENERGY ACTS AS AN ANCHOR FOR PRICES”

Fluctuations in energy prices are felt more acutely in fossil fuel- based systems. Global market volatility can quickly impact electricity costs. Renewable energy, with its independence from fossil fuel prices, acts as an anchor for electricity prices, playing a stabilizing role. This stabilizing effect of renewable sources provides a more predictable cost structure for both households and industry. Investments in wind, solar, and storage create a new industrial and collaborative field, contributing to skilled employment and technology transfer. In the coming period, renewable energy will emerge as one of the key topics in energy diplomacy.