[REVISION HISTORY]

Turkey renewable surge, EV boom, and electrification goals

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2026-10-28 09:21 UTC → 2026-10-31 06:05 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Turkey’s energy transition and electric vehicle (EV) adoption continued to evolve through the third quarter of 2026. While the broader automotive market experienced a contraction, electrified models gained significant ground, with hybrid and fully electric vehicles accounting for 51.9% of the total market share during the first nine months of the year. Renewable energy production remains a cornerstone of the transition. In October 2026, hydroelectric power served as the primary production source, accounting for 19% of total generation. Turkey is also targeting a major expansion in geothermal energy, aiming to increase installed capacity from 1,800 MW to 4,500 MW by 2035 through approximately $10 billion in investments. Ali Kındap, Chairman of the Geothermal Energy Association (JED), noted that the country’s 68 existing geothermal plants utilize advanced technology and undergo 24/7 monitoring to ensure emission compliance. ~~Furthermore, an~~ New developments in renewable infrastructure include wind energy projects in the Aegean region, which have commenced ground studies and excavation following environmental approval. The first phase is expected to add 400 megawatts of annual capacity, enough to meet the yearly needs of approximately 150,000 households. To address the intermittency of solar and wind, Professor Dr. İbrahim Dinçer, Chairman of the Hydrogen Technologies Association, has proposed prioritizing hydrogen production at renewable sites, though he noted economic viability depends on minimizing conversion losses and managing investment costs. An analysis by the think tank ~~Ember~~ Ember, released ahead of the COP31 UN climate conference in Antalya, suggests Turkey could increase the share of electricity in its final energy consumption from 22% to as high as 85% using existing ~~technologies,~~ technologies. This shift could transition 96% of transport and 58% of industry to electricity, potentially reducing energy imports. The EV sector continues to grow, with the number of electric vehicles surpassing 490,000. September 2026 data from the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) showed 3,152,733 charging operations were performed. While total electricity consumption in the charging market decreased by 14.6% in September compared to August, there remains a strong preference for DC fast charging, which accounted for 82.44% of total energy consumption in the charging service market.

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