Renewables to provide most of Turkey's additional electricity production this year, says energy minister

In comments carried by Hurriyet Daily News, Taner Yıldız said that new renewable projects would make up 95% of the planned investment, which would increase Turkey's total installed generating capacity to 73,600MW by the end of 2015. A renewable energy 'action plan' published by the Turkish government in February set an overall target of 30% of Turkey's electricity supplies to come from renewable sources by 2023.

"Hydroelectricity power plants will contribute 1,500MW, wind power plants 800MW, geothermal resources 240MW and bioenergy resources 50MW to create the planned 4,000MW capacity increase in 2015," said Yıldız. The remaining additional capacity would be provided through increased coal and asphaltite mineral resources and natural gas, he said.

"Turkey's electricity capacity and production are growing continuously. Within the first three months of this year, 1,000MW came online. It is pleasing to note that local and renewable resources make up 90% of that capacity," he said.

The Turkish government, in conjunction with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), published a 'National Renewable Energy Action Plan' for the country earlier this year. The document proposed increasing Turkey's existing renewable energy generation capacity to 61 gigawatts (GW) by 2023; mostly by increasing hydro, wind and solar capabilities. The plan also set out what Turkey had to do in order to attract greater investment into the country's renewable energy sector.

The plan was produced as part of Turkey's candidacy to join the European Union. Under the EU's Renewable Energy Directive, member states must produce a national action plan setting out how they intend to meet an EU level target of 27% national energy generation from renewable sources by 2030.