Türkiye added 4.6 GW of solar and a record 1.9 GW of wind capacity in 2025, bringing combined installed capacity close to 40 GW
Wind and solar together produced 22% of electricity, surpassing hydropower and reducing natural gas’s share in the power mix
A rule linking battery storage to new wind and solar projects has led to a large pipeline of storage-backed projects
Solar power continued its rapid expansion in Türkiye, with 4.6 GW of new capacity installed in 2025, matching the pace of additions recorded a year earlier, says Ember. With wind energy growing by a record 1.9 GW, these 2 renewable energy sources together accounted for nearly 40 GW in the national cumulative power mix.
According to a new Ember report, wind and solar combined generated 22% of Türkiye’s electricity, cutting the country’s natural gas imports even as drought reduced its hydroelectric output. Both these technologies surpassed hydropower in 2025 and helped reduce the share of natural gas from 48% in 2014 to 22% last year.
“Although Türkiye still lags behind many European countries in wind and solar energy, it is clearly the leader among countries in the Middle East, the Caucasus, and Central Asia,” says Ember. Renewables made up about 43% of the country’s total electricity generation, below the European Union’s average of 48%.
At the end of January 2026, Türkiye’s Energy Ministry said the country’s cumulative installed solar energy capacity reached 25.83 GW at the end of January 2026, accounting for 20.9% of the national power mix (see Türkiye’s Solar Capacity Exceeds 25 GW; Reaches 20.9% Of Power Mix).
Solar generation has been expanding in the country, doubling from 18.4 TWh in 2023 to 37.3 TWh in 2025. It accounted for 11% of electricity generation, matching that of wind. Yet, coal accounted for a 34% share last year, of which 2/3rd was imported, and no new coal plants have been commissioned since 2022.
Nevertheless, these annual additions are not enough as Türkiye requires 8 GW of annual installations to be on track to achieve 120 GW of wind and solar capacity target by 2035 (see Turkey Targets 120 GW Wind & Solar Power Capacity By 2035).
Ember suggests that the country consider hybrid solar installations, storage-integrated wind and solar projects, and unlicensed installations aimed at self-consumption to boost solar deployment.
Ember says Türkiye is the regional leader in wind and solar energy in the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Caucasus.
“The global fossil fuel crisis experienced for the second time in the past four years has further highlighted the importance of the transition to clean energy. In this context, Türkiye—set to host the COP31 summit—has the opportunity to take on a leading role in the regional energy transition,” said Ember’s Regional Lead, Türkiye and the Caucasus, Ufuk Alparslan.
Battery storage in Türkiye is expanding after a 2022 government rule required new wind and solar projects to include battery capacity equal to their installed capacity for them to avail of grid capacity. Strong interest despite limited grid capacity led to a record 221 GW of project applications within months.
So far, Ember says 33 GW of projects have been approved. This pipeline is significantly larger than in EU countries. While leading EU nations have around 12 GW to 13 GW of battery capacity, including operational projects and pipelines, Türkiye’s approved projects alone total 33 GW. This pipeline is equivalent to about 83% of the country’s current 40 GW wind and solar capacity.
The complete Ember report, titled Türkiye Electricity Review 2026, is available for free download on its website.
