Turkey's installed wind energy capacity has reached 10,010 megawatts (MW) as of Aug. 8, according to data from Turkey's Electricity Transmission Corporation (TEIAS) on Tuesday.
The country's installed electricity capacity reached 98,800 MW, while clean electricity capacity totaled 51,900 MW during the January to July period of this year.
The 10,00 MW threshold of installed wind energy, although setting a new record high, still falls behind hydroelectricity which leads among Turkey's clean energy installed power.
Turkey has prioritized the security of energy supply as one of the central pillars of its energy strategy, including efforts to boost investments in the clean energy sector.
Turkey has seen considerable diversification of its energy mix in the past decade, in particular through the growth of renewable electricity generation.
While the share of wind energy in Turkey's total electricity installed power reached 10%, wind energy constituted 19.3% of total renewable energy installed power.
In the January to July period of this year, wind power met around 9% of total electricity generation, and it is estimated to replace $1 billion worth of natural gas imports.
Turkey's wind capacity and equipment production has grown to the extent that it now ranks as one of the 10 biggest markets globally.
Growth in this sector has already crowned Turkey as the fifth-biggest equipment producer in Europe last year. And this growth has seen Turkey expand its exports to 45 countries on six continents.
Of the 77 wind equipment producer companies in Turkey, 70% generate their revenues from equipment exports.
WindEurope, the association that advocates for wind energy in Europe and worldwide, said that Turkey ranked as the fifth-biggest wind power investor in Europe in 2020 with €1.6 billion.
- Turkey's wind capitals
The highest wind energy capacity on a provincial basis was in the Izmir province with approximately 1,700 MW, followed by Balikesir with 1,300MW, Canakkale with approximately 850 MW, Manisa with 750 MW, and Istanbul with 420 MW. With the exception of Istanbul, the majority of these locations with high wind energy capacity are in the Aegean region.
By Gulsen Cagatay and Nuran Erkul Kaya
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr