Turkey's General Directorate of Highways is setting up its third solar plant and working on three additional solar facilities, with plans to expand these installations nationwide. Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu emphasized the cost-efficiency and environmental benefits, noting that the initial plant near Izmir has already contributed TRY 43.4 million and generates 1.5 GWh annually.
Turkey Expands Solar Power Initiative
Following the success of its initial two solar power plants, Turkey’s General Directorate of Highways is setting up its third solar facility and working on three additional projects. Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure announced plans to expand these solar installations nationwide.
The General Directorate of Highways (KGM) launched its first photovoltaic plant in 2017. Pleased with the savings achieved, Uraloğlu pledged to extend the use of such solar facilities throughout Turkey. He emphasized that photovoltaics are both environmentally friendly and cost-efficient, helping to reduce energy imports.
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The Çeşme solar power plant which has a peak capacity of 1.05 MW and a 990 kW grid connection, has already made a significant impact. Uraloğlu highlighted that the initial plant, located near Izmir has contributed TRY 43.4 million (EUR 1.21 million) so far. Notably, around 100 kW of this capacity is installed on canopies above a parking area. According to KGM, the total annual output of the plant is 1.5 GWh.
Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar outlined new targets in the renewable energy sector. He announced an initial goal of adding at least 5,000 megawatts (MW) of solar and wind capacity every year. He also mentioned that the areas on dams will be assessed under the new floating solar power plant (GES) regulation passed by the Parliament. “We will establish a clear target for the next 10 years,” he added.
Solar Facilities: Aligning with Goal 2035
While speaking at the World Bank Energy Transformation Workshop, Minister Alparslan Bayraktar noted that a healthy energy transformation is essential to achieve the 2053 carbon neutrality target. He also highlighted that this transformation should be guided by sensitive, rational, flexible, and digital policy frameworks; stressing the critical role of renewable energy.
The Minister pointed out that Turkey ranks 11th globally and 5th in Europe in terms of installed renewable energy capacity. “We have a very ambitious renewable development program,” he said. “Turkey must add 5,000 MW of solar and wind capacity to its installed renewable energy capacity every year. We have planned this until 2035.” He also mentioned a target of 5,000 MW in the first phase of offshore wind projects.
At the same time, the Minister recognized the necessity of grid investments to meet these renewable energy goals. “We have an investment target of approximately 10 billion US dollars over 10 years to expand our transmission system and undertake new and comprehensive investments to meet the increasing demand,” he pointed out.
Moreover, he underscored the importance of efficiency in the energy transformation, aiming for 16 per cent energy savings with a 20 billion US dollar investment as part of the 2030 Energy Strategy. This initiative is expected to prevent approximately 100 million tons of carbon emissions.
Government Support and International Cooperation
With the new projects on the horizon, Turkey aims to build on this success and expand its solar capacity even further. The focus on floating solar power plants represents an innovative approach to maximizing the country's solar potential. These floating installations can reduce land use conflicts and make use of existing water bodies, providing an efficient way to increase solar energy output.
International cooperation is also playing a vital role in Turkey's renewable energy expansion. Partnerships with organizations like the World Bank are helping to facilitate knowledge exchange and provide financial support for large-scale projects. These collaborations are essential for overcoming the technical and financial challenges associated with renewable energy development.
As Turkey continues to invest in renewable energy, it is setting an example for other countries to follow. The successes achieved so far are just the beginning, with much more potential to be realized in the coming years. The ongoing efforts to enhance energy efficiency, expand solar and wind capacity, and develop new technologies will ensure that Turkey remains at the forefront of the global renewable energy movement.