Turkey Expands Renewable Energy Ahead Of COP31 But Coal Dependence Threatens Climate Goals

Turkey is promoting renewable energy and global electrification as host of COP31, with more than 33 gigawatts of battery storage projects approved since 2022. However, rising coal use and dependence on imported fossil fuels threaten its climate goals. Experts say Turkey must expand clean energy faster and establish a clear plan to phase out coal to achieve meaningful emissions reductions.

Turkey is presenting its growing renewable energy sector as evidence of its commitment to tackling climate change as it hosts the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP31, in Antalya. The country has made significant investments in wind, solar and battery storage, but its continued dependence on coal, oil and natural gas raises questions about how far it can go in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Since 2022, Turkey has approved more than 33 gigawatts (GW) of battery storage projects, with the potential to provide electricity storage capacity equivalent to the needs of more than 27 million homes.
The projects are expected to support the country's rapidly expanding wind and solar industries. Renewable energy sources now account for approximately 22 per cent of Turkey's electricity generation, compared with just 4.5 per cent a decade ago.
However, the expansion of clean energy has not yet been sufficient to reverse the country's dependence on fossil fuels. Coal-fired electricity generation has increased significantly, making Turkey one of Europe's major coal-dependent economies.

RENEWABLE ENERGY EXPANSION GAINS MOMENTUM

Turkey's investments in renewable energy have increased its ability to generate electricity from natural sources, particularly sunlight and wind.
The country has considerable solar energy potential because it receives almost twice the annual sunlight experienced by Germany. This gives Turkey an opportunity to expand solar electricity generation and reduce its dependence on imported energy.
According to figures from Turkey's Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, solar power accounted for almost 21 per cent of the country's installed electricity generation capacity at the beginning of 2026, compared with approximately 0.1 per cent in 2014.
The country's solar manufacturing industry has also expanded, with its production capacity reportedly exceeding that of several major European countries combined.
Battery storage is another important part of the transition. Solar and wind power depend on weather conditions, meaning electricity generation can fluctuate throughout the day. Battery systems allow excess electricity generated during periods of strong sunlight or wind to be stored and released when production falls or demand increases.
Turkey's approved battery storage projects could therefore help stabilise electricity supplies and make it easier to integrate larger quantities of renewable energy into the national grid.

COAL DEPENDENCE CONTINUES TO UNDERMINE CLIMATE PROGRESS

Despite the growth of renewable energy, coal remains a major part of Turkey's electricity system.
Coal-fired electricity generation has increased by roughly one-third over the past decade. In 2024, Turkey overtook Germany and Poland in coal-fired electricity generation, at a time when coal power was declining in those countries.
The continued use of coal is a major concern because burning it releases large quantities of carbon dioxide, one of the greenhouse gases responsible for global warming.
Turkey has also not established a firm national deadline for completely phasing out coal. This places it among industrialised economies that have yet to make a clear commitment to ending coal power generation.
Environmental campaigners argue that coal projects are increasingly difficult to justify financially and socially. They point to opposition from communities concerned about pollution, environmental destruction and the health effects of coal mining and power generation.
According to the climate campaign organisation Beyond Fossil Fuels, approximately 97 per cent of proposed new coal projects in Turkey were cancelled over the past decade.
The cancellations suggest that financial difficulties, public opposition and environmental concerns are creating obstacles for new coal investments.
However, Turkey's government has continued to support some coal-related developments. In June, it announced plans to expand one of the country's largest coal-fired power plants, with the intention of nearly doubling its capacity.
The proposed expansion illustrates the conflict between Turkey's renewable energy ambitions and its existing energy policies.

FOSSIL FUEL IMPORTS CREATE ECONOMIC AND SECURITY RISKS

Turkey's dependence on fossil fuels is not only an environmental concern. It also exposes the country to fluctuations in international energy prices and disruptions to global supplies.
The country imports approximately 95 per cent of its natural gas, 83 per cent of its crude oil and 60 per cent of its coal requirements.
This dependence means that changes in global oil and gas prices can have significant consequences for Turkey's economy.
When international energy prices rise, the cost of importing fuel increases. This can place pressure on businesses, electricity producers, government finances and household budgets.
Geopolitical tensions and conflicts can also disrupt supply routes, making energy imports more expensive or difficult to obtain.
The situation has strengthened Turkey's argument for expanding domestic renewable energy production. Solar and wind power could reduce the amount of imported fossil fuels required to meet the country's energy needs.
By generating more electricity from resources available within its borders, Turkey could improve energy security while reducing emissions.

TURKEY PROMOTES GLOBAL ELECTRIFICATION AT COP31

As host of COP31, Turkey is using the climate conference to promote a broader transition from fossil fuels towards electricity generated increasingly from cleaner sources.
In September, the country introduced the global 35x35 electrification pledge, which seeks to increase the share of electricity in total global energy consumption from slightly above 20 per cent to 35 per cent by 2035.
The initiative encourages countries to replace fossil fuel use with electricity across transportation, buildings and industrial activities.
Examples include replacing petrol and diesel vehicles with electric vehicles, using electric heating systems in buildings and adopting electrically powered industrial equipment.
The initiative is intended to complement existing international climate commitments to double improvements in energy efficiency and triple global renewable energy capacity.
Electrification can help reduce emissions, particularly when the electricity used comes from renewable sources. However, its climate benefits depend on how electricity is generated. If coal and gas remain dominant, switching from direct fossil fuel use to electricity may not deliver the full environmental benefits expected.
COP31 President Murat Kurum has promoted the initiative as a way to improve both climate protection and energy security.
He has argued that recent conflicts and instability in global energy markets demonstrate that dependence on fossil fuels does not necessarily guarantee reliable energy supplies.
Nevertheless, Climate Action Tracker estimates that Turkey's current National Energy Plan would increase electrification to only about 25 per cent of total energy consumption by 2035, below the 35 per cent ambition promoted by the global pledge.

TURKEY FACES GROWING CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS

Turkey's efforts to expand renewable energy are also taking place against the background of increasingly severe climate-related events.
Like other Mediterranean countries, Turkey faces rising temperatures, prolonged heatwaves, wildfires and destructive flooding.
Extreme heat can increase demand for electricity as households and businesses rely more heavily on cooling systems. It can also affect agriculture, water supplies, public health and economic activities.
Wildfires threaten forests, settlements and agricultural land, while severe flooding can destroy infrastructure, displace residents and cause loss of life.
These developments demonstrate why reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving climate resilience have become important priorities for the country.
Climate resilience involves preparing communities, infrastructure and essential services to withstand the effects of extreme weather, even as governments work to limit future global warming.

TURKEY COULD REDUCE EMISSIONS THROUGH FASTER RENEWABLE INVESTMENT

Climate experts believe Turkey could make faster progress by increasing its annual additions of wind and solar energy.
Climate researcher Umit Sahin has argued that adding approximately 10 GW of new solar and wind capacity each year, rather than the government's target of 8 GW, could help Turkey reduce emissions by 35 per cent by 2035.
Expanding battery storage would support this effort by allowing electricity generated from renewable sources to be stored and used when required.
However, experts warn that renewable energy expansion alone will not deliver the necessary reductions if coal-fired power generation continues to increase.
A successful transition would require a combination of more renewable energy, improved energy efficiency, reduced fossil fuel consumption and a clear timetable for moving away from coal.
The government would also need to consider the economic and social consequences of the transition, particularly for workers and communities that depend on coal-related industries.

COP31 PUTS TURKEY'S CLIMATE COMMITMENT UNDER INTERNATIONAL SCRUTINY

Hosting COP31 gives Turkey an opportunity to influence international climate discussions and demonstrate its own progress towards cleaner energy.
However, the country's policies will also attract scrutiny because its growing renewable energy capacity exists alongside continued investment in coal.
For Turkey to demonstrate stronger climate leadership, it will need to translate its renewable energy ambitions into measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
The challenge is not simply to generate more electricity from solar panels and wind turbines, but to reduce the role of fossil fuels throughout the economy.
Its ability to expand clean energy, improve electricity storage, reduce imported fuel dependence and establish a credible coal phaseout strategy will help determine whether the current renewable energy boom becomes a genuine turning point.
The outcome will also have implications beyond Turkey, as other countries seek ways to balance economic development, reliable energy supplies and the need to limit global warming.