Geothermal Energy Association seeks regulatory reforms in Turkey

The Geothermal Energy Association (JED) has submitted a series of regulatory requests to the Turkish Grand National Assembly and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources ahead of the new legislative year. The association aims to support Turkey’s 2035 National Energy Goal, which envisions increasing geothermal installed capacity from approximately 1,800 MW to 4,500 MW.

A primary demand is the extension of the Renewable Energy Resources Support Mechanism (YEKDEM) deadline. JED requests that the required commissioning date for plants under this mechanism be moved from December 31, 2030, to 2040 to improve investor confidence and account for the long return periods of exploration and drilling investments.

Other key proposals include: • Establishing a single-center coordination system for licensing, inspection, and zoning to reduce costs and delays. • Developing support mechanisms and risk-sharing or insurance models for exploration and drilling. • Encouraging hybrid geothermal-solar plants and multi-purpose uses such as heating, greenhouse farming, and thermal tourism. • Implementing a comprehensive Geothermal Law to replace current fragmented regulations.