Turkey Electricity Review 2022
Ember analysis finds that coal generation fell for third consecutive year, but Turkey’s electricity is still dirty.
Available in: Türkçe
About
Ember’s Turkey Electricity Review presents full-year data on electricity generation in 2021.
Executive summary
Coal generation fell for third consecutive year, but Turkey’s electricity still dirty
Ufuk Alparslan Electricity & Climate Data Analyst, Ember
The increase in wind and solar power has been promising but not enough to meet the rise in power demand. The gap was filled by imported coal, raised import bills. However, wind and solar energy are now cheaper than coal generation relying on imports. 2018 may be the year when coal peaked in Turkey, but it would require determination not to build new coal and say goodbye to the dirtiest power generation source.
Analysis
Turkey's electricity trends in 2021
In this chapter:
The steady increase in non-hydro renewables in Turkey was only enough to keep its carbon intensity in electricity production at similar levels. While Turkey ended up with 3% higher carbon intensity in 2021 in comparison to 2004, in the same period Denmark reduced it by around 60%, Greece and the United Kingdom managed to reduce it by 50%, while Romania and Italy reduced it by 45%. Despite their lack of ambition in coal phase out, even the Netherlands, Germany and Bulgaria were able to decrease it by 32%, 28% and 13% respectively in the same period. As a result Turkey has been outranked by all of these eight countries over the course of 17 years.
What is the Carbon Intensity of Power?
Carbon intensity is a measure of CO2 equivalent emissions caused for each unit of electricity (kWh) generated in a country. The lower it is, the cleaner the power generated in that country.
Conclusion
Key priority is accelerating renewables deployment
Turkey ratified the Paris Agreement in 2021 and set a net zero target. Despite its 2053 carbon neutrality target which implies coal exit sooner or later, there is no coal phase-out date or commitment not to build new coal in place yet. The growth in renewables (excluding hydro) is promising; however, it is still lagging behind the surge in power demand. The gap between the surging demand and the rise in renewables was filled by imported coal. However, wind and solar power are cheaper than running coal power plants relying on imports. The rate of renewable deployment should be accelerated not only to replace coal, but to also meet the rise in power demand.
Taking into account the fluctuations in hydropower generation, overreliance on hydro comes with a cost. But Turkey can turn its overreliance on hydro into an advantage by covering its large reservoirs with floating solar. The complementing nature of hydro and solar production patterns will hedge the country against dry seasons and the spikes in international fossil fuel prices.
