Dünya – Nearly one of third of Türkiye’s installed power will be generated from renewable energy sources by 2023, Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said in a parliamentary hearing. Briefing the members of the parliament on the government’s energy policies, Yildiz said that the installed capacity relying on renewable sources had increased two fold in the last 10 years, and now exceeds 25,000 megawatts (MW).
Noting that power generation from renewables was supported through special legislation as well as sector-specific incentives, Yildiz provided information on Türkiye’s renewable potential. “Türkiye aims to utilize 20,000 MWs of its total wind energy capacity of 48,000 MW by 2023, the Centenary of the Republic, while fully utilizing its hydro sources”, the Minister remarked, adding that geothermal sources will also be utilized to their fullest extent, and are expected to generate 600 MW by 2023.
Important steps have been taken to add solar energy to the grid, Yildiz said, referring to the license applications received by the country’s Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA). The total installed capacity using solar energy will reach 3,000 MWs in the next 10 years.
Türkiye grants additional support for energy companies with facilities that use locally produced equipment/components to generate power from renewable sources.
Having implemented a successful privatization program in the last few years which handed over the operating rights of regional power distribution networks to the private sector, the country aims to repeat the same success in power generation assets, which are also in line for privatization in the coming years. The private sectors’ share in power generation has already reached 65 percent as of December 2013, compared to 38 percent in 2002, highlighting the growing country’s appeal for energy companies.
The country’s current installed capacity of 62,000 MWs is expected to reach 120,000 MWs in 2023.