Turkey Bets $108 Billion on Wind and Solar While Expanding Oil and Gas

Turkey will invest about $108 billion over the next decade to expand wind and solar capacity to 120 GW, allocating $80 billion to generation and $28 billion to transmission, according to the energy minister. At the same time Ankara is increasing oil and gas activity at home and abroad and aims to become a regional gas hub for Europe.

By AI Newsroom· Reviewed by Pranav, Founder & Editor-in-ChiefPublished about 8 hours agoUpdated about 1 hour ago0 views

Why It Matters

The plan signals a large-scale push to electrify energy demand and build renewable generation and grid capacity, while simultaneous investment in oil and gas underscores Turkey’s dual strategy of pursuing energy transition goals alongside efforts to secure traditional fuel supplies and regional influence.

Key Facts

Total planned investment (10 years): $108 billion
Target installed wind and solar capacity by 2035: 120 GW
Breakdown of investment: $80 billion for generation, $28 billion for transmission
Turkeys electricity share target by 2035: 35% of final energy demand
Current installed electricity capacity (as reported): 126,000 MW (up from 32,000 MW in 2001)

Turkey has unveiled a decade-long program to scale up wind and solar, with officials projecting roughly $108 billion in investments aimed at reaching 120 gigawatts of combined installed capacity by 2035. Energy minister Arpaslan Bayraktar told Anadolu Agency that about $80 billion would be directed to generation projects and $28 billion to transmission upgrades to carry more renewables output to consumers. The government frames the plan as part of an electrification push: Environment minister Murat Kurum said Turkey aims to meet about 35% of final energy demand with electricity by 2035, a target linked to reducing exposure to volatile international fuel markets. Turkey is also hosting COP31 this year, and officials have placed the electrification goal among the presidencys priorities. Officials note rapid recent growth in capacity: Bayraktar said installed electricity capacity rose from 32,000 MW in 2001 to 126,000 MW, with some 96 GW added in the period, placing Turkey third in Europe by installed generation capacity after France and Germany. The report, however, highlights that installed capacity figures can be misleading for variable sources like wind and solar, whose actual output depends heavily on weather conditions. At the same time, Turkey continues to expand oil and gas activity. State firm TPAO operates the Sakarya gas field in the Black Sea, producing about 9.5 million cubic meters per day, and holds interests abroad in Pakistan, Libya and Somalia. Ankara is pursuing both domestic drilling and regional projects, including exploration offshore Cyprus, while aiming to position itself as a significant regional gas hub for Europe. The countrys current generation mix still includes sizeable shares of hydropower (around 17%) and coal (about 34%), with wind and solar together contributing roughly 22% last year.