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Türkiye's state-owned railway company has begun operating solar power plants that not only meet the system's energy needs but also generate income by selling excess electricity to the national grid.
Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced Saturday that four solar energy facilities have become operational at railway installations, with the Turkish State Railways (TCDD) now producing its own power while contributing surplus energy back to the public system.
"TCDD meets its energy needs from these facilities and transfers surplus production to the grid, providing income to the public," Uraloglu said in a written statement.
"Through these facilities, 1.5 billion lira ($36M) will remain in the state treasury each year."
The initial phase includes solar installations at railway stations in Balikesir, Selcuk and Basmane, as well as at the Taslica Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Workshop in Gaziantep.
These four operational plants, combined with facilities currently under construction, will generate 318.5 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually.
The minister emphasized that the railway system is expanding its role beyond transportation to become a leader in environmentally conscious energy policies, integrating renewable energy investments directly with rail transport operations.
Construction continues on the Marmaray Roof Solar Power Plant Project, which will install solar panels across 26 train stations along the commuter rail line.
The 10.13-megawatt capacity system will generate over 15 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy annually.
"The energy needed for operation and security will be produced at the power plants on the roofs of the stations," Uraloglu said.
The project will meet 60 percent of Marmaray's energy requirements once completed.
TCDD continues work on three additional solar facilities with a combined capacity of 200 megawatts in Ankara-Kocahacılı, Sivas-Sarıdemir and Kahramanmaraş-Narlı. Upon completion by the end of 2029, renewable energy will supply 25 percent of the electricity needed at TCDD's catenary facilities.
Uraloglu outlined the company's medium-term goal of meeting 35 percent of TCDD's electricity needs through renewable sources, positioning the initiative as a significant contribution to Türkiye's broader energy transformation process while reducing greenhouse gas emissions in rail transportation.
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