Türkiye is making impressive strides in its energy transition as it prepares to host the COP31 climate change conference this November.
The country is now home to one of the biggest solar facilities in the world as well as one of Europe's largest battery storage pipelines.
Although coal remains Türkiye’s largest source of power, the nation is on its way to becoming a renewable pioneer for the region, experts say.
A new report by energy think tank Ember reveals that Türkiye has quietly built one of Europe's largest battery storage pipelines, surpassing any EU country.
Since 2022, the country has required new wind and solar projects to be paired with equivalent battery capacity. This mandate triggered a record-breaking 221 GW of applications within months, with 33 GW already approved.
While the EU’s top storage markets, such as Germany and Italy, sit at 12–13 GW, Türkiye has created a pipeline equivalent to 83 per cent of its current wind and solar capacity.
"By mandating storage with renewables, Türkiye hasn't just increased its targets; it has created a massive investment signal that outstrips its European peers,” Ufuk Alparslan, the report’s author, says.
“If delivered, Türkiye’s battery pipeline will be the backbone of a new, clean regional energy hub.”
The report highlights that Türkiye has emerged as a significant model within its region in 2025.
Wind and solar reached a combined 22 per cent share of electricity generation, making Türkiye the undisputed leader among 16 countries in the Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia.
It is the only country in this broader region where wind and solar have surpassed a 20 per cent share of electricity generation.
Türkiye is home to the largest solar energy facility in Europe. Kalyon Karapınar SPP has around 3.5 million solar panels spanning an area of approximately 20 million square metres, equivalent to the size of 2,600 football fields.
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The Central Control Building was designed by Bilgin Architects. The giant rectangular prism is clad on the exterior with reflective silver panels, while inside there is a lush courtyard oasis open to the sky.
Images of the sci-fi-esque facility have impressed internet users, with one Reddit commenter suggesting it could feature in a new James Bond film and another calling it a “masterpiece”.
The project, which has been producing energy since 2023, generates nearly three billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, providing clean energy for the equivalent of a city of two million people.
Despite its progress on solar, Türkiye still trails behind many European peers, ranking 15th in Europe for wind generation and 16th for total renewables generation. The country will still need to triple its current solar and wind capacity to reach its 120 GW target for 2035, a tall order.
Coal remains Türkiye’s primary power source at 34 per cent, with two-thirds of that production relying on imports.
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Although production growth has begun to slow, it has yet to peak. While no new coal plants have been commissioned during the last three years, a 2025 purchase guarantee for domestic coal risks driving up coal generation in 2026, according to Ember.
However, its investments in renewables bode well for the future.
"Türkiye has a unique opportunity to turn its regional leadership in renewables into a global advantage," Alparslan says.
"By accelerating its storage projects and modernising its grid, Türkiye can finally break its coal dependency. Ahead of COP31, the country is proving it has the potential to move from the 'middle of the pack' in Europe to a pioneer for the entire region.
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