Minister Bayraktar: “We are going through a period in which all conventional assumptions in energy are being overturned”
Delivering the opening speech of the congress, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar said:
“We are going through a period in which all conventional assumptions in energy are being overturned. The pandemic, disruptions in supply chains, and regional crises have caused price fluctuations and created an unpredictable market structure. Energy has become a matter of national security for all countries, large or small. We are rapidly moving toward a world where every aspect of life is electrified. Artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and big data applications are triggering paradigm shifts in the electricity sector, making the transformation of transmission and distribution grids inevitable. In 2024, more than 30,000 TWh of electricity was produced worldwide. In the same year, our country generated 349 TWh, accounting for 1.1% of global production,” he said.
WE AIM TO REDUCE OUR COUNTRY’S ENERGY DEPENDENCE
Emphasizing that energy demand is rising in every sector from agriculture to industry, and from housing to transportation, Minister Bayraktar continued:
“In the past, electricity consumption in our country peaked in the winter months. Now, with heavy use of air conditioning, new consumption records are being set in summer. Last July was a record month for consumption. Our total electricity generation reached 36.7 billion kWh, the highest monthly level ever recorded. On July 29, maximum daily generation also peaked at 1,250,178 kWh. By 2035, even with conservative estimates, we foresee demand increasing by an annual average of 3.5%, reaching 510.5 TWh. Between 2035 and 2055, the annual growth rate is expected to rise to 5.2%, pushing total yearly consumption to 1,406 TWh. Faced with this demand growth and the transition in generation sources, Turkey needs a new energy architecture. Within this framework, while designing our new energy architecture, we are striving to implement sensitive, flexible, and rational policy sets that prioritize digitalization. On the one hand, we are working to ensure supply security. On the other, under the motto ‘Fully Independent Turkey in Energy,’ we aim to reduce our country’s dependence on external sources,” he said.
WITH OUR 14 GW INSTALLED CAPACITY, WE RANK 6TH IN EUROPE AND 12TH WORLDWIDE
Highlighting that global energy systems are undergoing profound transformation, with intensifying competition in wind and solar and rapid advances in technology, TÜREB Chairman İbrahim Erden stated:
“As a country, we have made a strong transition in a relatively short time from the coal–hydro–natural gas axis to the wind–solar–storage axis. We are still experiencing the aftershocks of this transition. However, managing this transition intelligently, cost-effectively, and with a focus on technology is of high strategic importance. Today, with our 14 GW installed capacity, we rank 6th in Europe and 12th in the world. We have a very strong pipeline with ongoing investment and permitting processes: 18.5 GW of storage-based projects, more than 2 GW of ongoing YEKA projects, and 600 MW of unlicensed capacity. This picture shows that while we are growing in wind energy, we are also reducing—and will further reduce—our dependence on external energy sources. The foundation for this potential progress is the National Energy Strategy Document and the 2035 Renewable Energy Vision announced last year by our Minister. This vision set a target of 120 GW renewable energy by 2035, along with major infrastructure investment plans to achieve it. The most critical step paving the way for this progress is the ‘Super Permit’ regulation, completed with great effort. Following about a year and a half of meticulous preparation, this regulation was enacted, reducing the preliminary licensing and permitting process for wind investments—which used to take 48–60 months—to less than 24 months.”
ENERGY SOLUTIONS IN HOUSING ARE NO LONGER AN OPTION, BUT A NECESSITY
WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson said:
“As someone who has closely followed Turkey’s energy capacity targets since 2013, I can clearly see how critical the 2030 and 2035 targets are in the coming years. I believe that our wind energy capacity will increase significantly during this period, and the role of domestic production and technology in this transformation is extremely important. Developing high-quality and sustainable energy solutions in local housing is no longer an option, but a necessity. The transition to electric vehicles and the importance of industrial electrification are growing every day. Every investment in this area will bring not only environmental but also major economic gains. I also closely follow the EU’s energy policies and regulations. Europe’s reshaping of its energy system through electrification sets an example for us as well. At the same time, the relationships between Europe’s major aircraft manufacturers and Chinese suppliers raise issues of data security and cyber resilience. These matters directly affect not only Europe but also countries like ours that aim to play a role in global markets. The success of the WindEurope event held in Istanbul has made me very hopeful. I wholeheartedly believe that Turkey must play an active role in such international platforms. Strengthening Turkey’s role in Europe’s energy sector is essential. Because this step will shape not only today but also the future.”
About TÜREB
The Turkish Wind Energy Association (TÜREB) is a non-governmental organization that promotes the development of wind energy in Turkey. TÜREB organizes the TÜREK congress annually to support Turkey’s energy independence, increase the use of sustainable energy resources, and introduce young people to job opportunities in the sector.
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