As innovation in the global energy sector increasingly focuses on strengthening energy security and competitiveness, experts say Türkiye's plan to raise its combined solar and wind capacity to 120 gigawatts by 2035 is in line with this global shift.
According to the International Energy Agency's (IEA) "State of Energy Innovation 2026" report, energy security was the most influential factor shaping energy innovation last year.
The report found that nearly 80% of surveyed experts identified energy security as one of three main drivers of innovation last year, ahead of affordability and emissions reduction. The findings highlight how geopolitical developments and growing concerns over supply chains are accelerating innovation in energy technologies.
For Türkiye, which imports a large share of its oil and natural gas needs, increasing domestic renewable energy production and strengthening the resilience of the electricity grid remain key pillars of its energy security strategy.
Alkim Bag, director of the SHURA Energy Transition Center, said Türkiye’s 2035 renewable targets present an important opportunity both for energy security and the energy transition.
Bag said reaching the goal would require bringing an average of about 8 gigawatts of new renewable capacity online each year over the next decade, noting that achieving this scale depends not only on investor interest but also on permitting processes, grid connections, financing structures and market design.
She said stability provided by the Renewable Energy Resource Area (YEKA) mechanism and the commissioning of previously awarded capacities has strengthened investor confidence, but emphasized that the key challenge is accelerating project implementation.
- Renewable expansion strengthens European integration
Bag also noted that one of the main barriers to renewable expansion is the electricity system's ability to transmit and balance growing renewable generation.
Large-scale investments in transmission infrastructure and access to international financing are therefore critical, she said, noting that Türkiye has begun defining technical and financial targets for a "green grid" in line with its 120-gigawatt renewable goal and has already signed a financing agreement with the World Bank.
She added that grid transformation must also include investments in battery storage, demand-side participation and market mechanisms that reward flexibility.
Bag said Türkiye's renewable expansion could also strengthen integration with the European electricity system.
"In light of the growing renewable energy capacity, it is of great importance to ensure the flexibility of the electricity system through grid modernization, energy storage solutions, demand-side participation, and an effective market design, along with increasing interconnection capacity with neighboring countries," she said.
"In this context, the capacity of interconnection lines is being increased, investments in synchronization are being completed, and common operational standards are being developed," she added.
"As the share of renewable energy in Türkiye's electricity system increases and its carbon intensity decreases, the opportunities arising in terms of its integration into the European energy system and energy trade are also expanding," she explained.
Bag noted that decarbonizing the electricity system also offers commercial advantages by helping reduce the carbon footprint of products exported to Europe.
"However, the top priority throughout this process remains ensuring Türkiye's energy supply security in a sustainable and uninterrupted manner," she said.
- Ambitious but necessary target
David Reiner, professor in technology policy at the University of Cambridge, said Türkiye's goal of tripling its solar and wind capacity in less than a decade is ambitious.
"For Türkiye to reach 120 GW of solar and wind in less than a decade (which would be 3X current levels) is not impossible but is very ambitious," Reiner said.
Reiner noted that falling costs of solar, wind and battery technologies over the past decade have made renewable expansion more feasible.
"It is great that Türkiye is being so ambitious since that is the first necessary step," he said.
However, he stressed that turning such targets into reality will require major improvements in the investment climate and regulatory framework.
"Nevertheless, for this ambition to translate into reality requires an unprecedented level of effort in terms of improving the investment environment, regulatory regime, and permitting/planning process," Reiner said.
He added that the challenge extends beyond domestic investment, as many countries around the world are pursuing similar renewable targets and competing for international capital.
"Although already challenging in itself, it is not enough to just build wind and solar farms; this expansion in renewables will require a commensurate expansion in energy storage systems, a greatly improved electricity grid, and rules and regulations that simplify planning and permitting and make it attractive to invest in Türkiye," Reiner said.
He also noted that expanding renewable capacity is closely aligned with efforts to reduce reliance on imported energy, particularly fossil fuels.
"The recent IEA State of Innovation report does highlight how much the costs of solar, wind, and batteries have fallen over the past decade and how a significant expansion of renewable capacity is consistent with efforts to reduce reliance on energy imports, especially fossil fuels," he added.
By Handan Kazanci
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr
