Renewable Energy Development In Turkey And Its Potential To Help Combat Climate Change

Abstract

Primary energy consumption is increasing day by day due to Turkey's growing population, rapid urbanization and rapid economic growth. A large part of the energy need is provided from fossil fuels. This causes approximately 73% of Turkey's total energy consumption to be met through imports. In this respect, renewable energy is very important for a country like Turkey that meets its energy needs generally with imported fossil energy sources, and therefore, its dependence on foreign energy reaches serious dimensions. Therefore, Turkey should determine a low-carbon and climate-compatible development model. This may be possible with more investment in renewable energy in electricity generation, and then with a gradual transition towards carbonfree energy sources in transportation, industry and domestic-building heating systems. Therefore, Turkey's energy policy is based on basic objectives such as ensuring resource diversification by giving priority to domestic resources, increasing the share of renewable energy resources in energy supply, increasing energy efficiency, and taking measures to reduce the risks arising from energy imports. Because, one of the most important steps that can be taken in the fight against climate change is to reduce CO2 emissions. The way to do this is to increase the use of renewable energy. At the same time, it is not possible to transition to lowcarbon development policies without increasing the use of renewable energy. The fight against climate change, which is emphasized in the 11th Development Plan (2019-2023), is directly related to energy efficiency, increasing electricity production from renewable energy sources and sustainable environment vision. In this direction, renewable energy is encouraged in Turkey with support mechanisms such as YEKDEM and YEKA. Turkey, which has an important potential in terms of renewable energy, ranks 4th in the world with its geothermal energy total capacity and 10th with its hydroelectric capacity. Despite the COVID-19, more than 260 GW of renewable energy capacity was added globally in 2020, reaching 2,799 GW. Turkey has a share of 1.76% of the global renewable power capacity with a total renewable energy capacity of 49 GW. There is significant potential for renewable energy in Turkey and it can play a key role in the fight against climate change