Türkiye's first offshore wind tender, scheduled for the first quarter of 2027, has drawn interest from international developers, investors and manufacturers as the country prepares to open a new segment of its renewable energy market, Deputy Energy and Natural Resources Minister Zafer Demircan told Anadolu.
The tender is expected to be announced by the end of this year, with the auction planned for the first quarter of 2027, Demircan said.
He said Türkiye had completed extensive consultations with governments, companies, investors, manufacturers and financial institutions as it prepares the offshore wind tender.
"We have carried out a very comprehensive and transparent process with a wide range of stakeholders," Demircan said, adding that more than 44 institutions and organizations had provided input on a framework document prepared for the offshore wind development process.
Türkiye has consulted countries including the UK, Denmark and Germany, as well as private- and public-sector companies with experience in offshore wind projects, Demircan said.
He added that companies from China, Germany, Denmark and other European countries had expressed interest in participating in Türkiye's offshore wind development.
"China has companies that have built significant offshore capacity. We are evaluating their requests to cooperate with us," Demircan said, adding that there was broad international interest in the project.
- Grid capacity key to renewable growth
Demircan said expanding renewable energy capacity would depend on the ability to integrate new generation into the transmission grid.
"You can make as many new energy investments as you want, but their benefit is only possible if you integrate them properly into the transmission grid," he said, noting that grid capacity was a major constraint not only in Türkiye but globally.
Türkiye is working to modernize and upgrade its transmission infrastructure while increasing its capacity to connect new renewable energy projects, Demircan said.
The expansion will also require measures to address frequency control and other technical requirements associated with integrating additional renewable generation into the power system, he added.
- Financing reforms could double renewable growth
Demircan said financing was not necessarily in short supply but remained a major need and challenge for global renewable energy investment, particularly for capital-intensive projects such as offshore wind.
Long investment periods and financing risks mean existing financial mechanisms do not always fully meet investors' needs, he said.
Financial institutions should take into account the emissions reductions generated by renewable investments when assessing projects and reconsider financing costs, maturities and guarantee requirements, Demircan said.
"If improvements can be made in financing, the growth rate of renewable investments could almost double," he said.
Demircan said energy would be a central component of the UN climate conference, COP31, which Türkiye will host in Antalya.
He said Türkiye was preparing a dedicated energy day at the conference, with discussions expected to focus on accelerating renewable investment, regional energy cooperation and cross-border connectivity.
The discussions will also address the rapid transformation needed in electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure to support greater electrification, as well as the digitalization and modernization of energy-system management, he said.
Strengthening regional interconnections with neighboring countries would also be among the issues addressed during the energy-focused discussions, he added.
By Gulsen Cagatay in Hamburg
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr
