Public expenditure on Turkey's research and development (R&D) in energy increased by 139 percent in 2015 compared to the previous year, according to Turkish Statistical Institute's (Turkstat) data on Tuesday.
The Research and Development Activities Survey 2015 released by Turkstat, showed that public expenditure in R&D activities for energy reached 144.4 million Turkish liras in 2015 compared to 60.4 million liras in 2014.
Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Ministry initiated the Research and Development Projects Support Program (ENAR) in June 2010 while the General Directorate of Renewable Energy (YEGM) coordinates the program.
The country prioritizes R&D and innovation in support of energy efficiency technologies, electricity production from renewable energy sources, clean coal technologies, clean energy production and consumption.
Turkstat data showed that energy's production, storage, transportation, distribution, efficiency and conservation is the fifth biggest area in which government expenditure is made, after defense, industrial production and technology, agriculture, exploration and exploitation of the earth's crust and mantle, seas, oceans and atmosphere, and their exploitation; climatic and meteorological research, polar exploration and hydrology.
The survey results also revealed that the total gross domestic expenditure for research and development also increased in 2015 compared to the previous year by 17.1 percent and reached 20.6 billion liras in total.
The public expenditure for energy R&D was about 85 million liras in 2013 and 56 million liras in 2012, according to Turkstat data.
By Ebru Sengul
Anadolu Agency
ebrusengul@aa.com.tr