Istanbul:Trkiye is set to unveil a revised National Energy Plan on November 5, which will feature stronger energy targets extending through 2040, as stated by a senior energy official.
According to Wam, Ahmet Ozkaya, Director General of Energy Affairs at the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry, emphasized the importance of renewable energy in securing energy supplies, reducing import bills, and achieving Trkiye's 2053 net-zero emissions goal during a panel at the Investment Summit Towards COP31 in Istanbul. He highlighted that the combined wind and solar installed capacity has surpassed 44 gigawatts, with a previous target set in 2024 to increase this capacity to 120 gigawatts by 2035.
Ozkaya mentioned that the new plan anticipates stronger targets, particularly those extending from 2035 to 2040. He also noted that an earlier estimate indicated the need for $80 billion in transmission and distribution investments through 2035, with requirements expected to rise as the planning horizon extends to 2040. He warned that without necessary grid upgrades, the renewable energy ambitions would remain as mere "numbers and targets."
The transition to renewable energy is also boosting domestic manufacturing, with local content nearing 100% in hydropower equipment, almost 90% in solar, and between 60% to 65% in wind energy. Ozkaya added that the ministry is working on additional incentives to address the competitive pressures facing the sector.
