Renewable energy utilization in Turkey: a case of hydropower

Abstract

Turkey should change its energy policy to simply optimize energy consumption by supporting energy efficiency, give up on supporting environmentally hazardous energy generation such as nuclear, coal, and aim for 100% renewable energy. This will help relieve the economy by reducing energy importation, protect the environment by reducing carbon emissions, and provide energy independence which is a national security matter. Turkey’s total gross renewable energy potential is about 650 billion kWh annually while the economical potential was about 340 billion kWh/yr. Turkey has a total gross hydropower potential of 433 GWh/year, but only 125 GWh/year of the total hydroelectric potential of Turkey can be economically used. By the commissioning of new hydropower plants, which are under construction, 36% of the economically usable potential of the country would be tapped. This paper discusses the renewable energy and hydropower situation in Turkey.