Clean Energy Policies for Sustainable Development in Turkey

Abstract

Although energy has broughtabout significant changes in standards and life-styles, its generation,processing and consumption is also a source of both localized pollution and amajor contributor to global climate change. In this context, at theinternational level, the challenges related to energy and climate change are atthe very top of the agenda for action, and more than ever before, renewableenergy is proving its potential as an important part of the solution. Turkey isenergy importing country, which 70% of total energy consumption supplied byimported energy. Turkey is also generously endowed with renewable energysources. There is an estimated yearly renewable energy potential of around 560TWh from commercially exploitable sources such as hydropower, wind, biomass,geothermal and solar energy. This study shows that Turkey has enough renewableenergy potential to dimishes the country’s energy dependency and greenhousegases.