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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed the increasing importance of energy security, describing it as a vital issue for every nation.
Speaking at the 2024 Renewable Energy Investments Opening Ceremony held at Bestepe Congress and Culture Center, Erdogan stated, "Energy security has become a matter of survival for every state." The ceremony marked the inauguration of several renewable energy projects across Türkiye, emphasizing the nation’s growing commitment to sustainable energy.
Erdogan emphasized that energy security and energy diplomacy were no longer just technical issues but were directly tied to national security. "Access to energy resources and efforts to ensure energy security have become crucial as nations intensify competition for these resources," he noted.
The president also highlighted global tensions, linking rising geopolitical conflicts in regions such as Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America to the global energy race.
Erdogan pointed out Türkiye's significant strides in the renewable energy sector, particularly solar and wind energy.
He shared that Türkiye is now the fifth-largest renewable energy producer in Europe and ranks 11th worldwide. "Our installed renewable energy capacity has reached 118,185 megawatts (MW), with 60% of this coming from renewable sources," Erdogan said.
The country has made significant progress, particularly in solar energy, which had no installed capacity in 2005 but now boasts over 21,000 MW.
The president further emphasized that Türkiye aims to continue expanding its renewable energy infrastructure. By 2035, Türkiye plans to increase its installed solar and wind capacity to 120,000 MW, backed by an $80 billion investment. Erdogan also shared plans to develop 5,000 megawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2035.
Erdogan acknowledged the challenges faced by investors in the renewable energy sector, including lengthy approval processes. "We want to reduce the permitting process from 48 months to 18 months for wind and solar projects," he said, adding that the government has already completed preparations to simplify these processes. "We will soon present these regulations to the Parliament for approval," Erdogan confirmed.
He also reiterated Türkiye's commitment to increasing local production in the renewable energy sector. "In 2014, there were only 27 manufacturers in the sector; today, we have 500. This has created jobs for 50,000 people," Erdogan stated.
He highlighted the country’s success in achieving high localization rates in solar and wind equipment, with solar components reaching a 75% localization rate and wind turbines reaching over 70%.
Erdogan reiterated the importance of renewable energy in achieving Türkiye’s 2053 net-zero emission target. He said that green energy infrastructure, including solar, wind, and geothermal projects, plays a crucial role in Türkiye’s future energy strategy. "We are determined to increase our renewable energy capacity to meet the growing demand and reduce reliance on imports," he explained.
The president emphasized that energy independence is key to Türkiye's economic growth. "We aim to reduce our reliance on imported energy sources, which currently make up 70% of our energy supply," Erdogan explained. "Our ultimate goal is to make Türkiye a net exporter of energy resources and technology."
Erdogan also shared that in 2024 alone, Türkiye inaugurated 6,182 electricity generation plants across 81 provinces, with an installed capacity of 6,818 megawatts. "The total investment value of these projects is approximately $5 billion, and 98% of them are renewable energy plants," he said, noting that solar energy projects account for the largest share.
The president concluded his speech by urging continued progress in renewable energy, despite challenges. "We will continue to work day and night to multiply Türkiye’s energy resources," Erdogan stated, calling out those who seek to distract from Türkiye's energy progress. "While some try to waste our energy with false and pointless debates, we are focused on building the Türkiye of the future with clean energy investments," he added.
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