Current Status and Future Prospects of Renewable Energy Use in Turkey

Abstract

This paper reviews the current status of renewable energy sources, assesses their potential to contribute to Turkey's energy demand, and examines the future prospects. Turkey is rapidly growing in terms of both its economy and its population. Turkey's vibrant economy has led to increased energy demand in recent years. The major energy demand is fulfilled from the conventional fossil energy resources like coal, petroleum and natural gas. Turkey has very limited indigenous energy resources and has to import around 73% of primary energy to meet its needs. Coal –especially lignite– is by far the most plentiful energy resource in Turkey. Turkey has great potential for developing renewable energy resources, but their contribution to country's energy demand is insignificant, less than 10%. Although the institutional framework has improved in Turkey with the new Law on Renewable Energy, it is not enough to really allow for a large scale integration of renewable energy in the country. As Turkey looks towards possible EU membership, it will need to continue utilizing renewable energy as a means to achieve sustainable economic development. New regulations in line with the EU energy regulations will increase the incentives for renewable energy projects. Total energy consumption is expected to increase more rapidly than domestic energy production through 2020. The country's energy consumption is expected to grow 170 Mtoe by the year 2015 and 222 Mtoe by 2020. Turkey plans to increase hydroelectricity, wind and geothermal energy production in the near future. The Turkish government announced a 30% objective for renewable energies by 2023 with plans to push wind energy up to 20000 MW of installations for the same year.