Turkey needs $50 billion for electricity grid upgrades over the next decade

Turkey is being highlighted as a strategic bridge in regional energy security. Andrijana Nelkova‑Chuchuk, president of the Energy Regulators Regional Association (ERRA), said, "Turkey has a selective position in the region's wider energy map" and serves as a natural connector between supply sources and demand centres.

Barış Erdeniz, chairman of the Electricity Distribution Services Association (Elder), warned that the country will require at least $50 billion in investment over the next ten years to modernise its distribution networks for the upcoming “new electricity age.” He noted that electricity demand has risen about 50 % in the past 12 years, reaching 361 TWh, and is projected to hit 510 TWh by 2035, with installed capacity growing from 122.5 GW to 227 GW.

The same period sees renewable growth, with solar power contributing a record 17.4 % of total generation, surpassing hydro’s 23.4 % share. Daily production reached 1.061 TWh, while exports outpaced imports (10,636 MWh exported vs. 3,686 MWh imported). Spot market prices fluctuated between 200 and 4,250 lira per MWh.

Parallel to the energy push, Turkey aims to become a global data‑centre hub, leveraging its robust power grid and new investment programmes to attract AI and cloud‑computing projects.