Türkiye generated a total of 442.2 terawatt-hours of electricity from solar and wind energy between 2015 and 2025. This output replaced a significant portion of the fuel imports that would have been required if the same amount of electricity had been generated using imported coal or natural gas.
According to data from the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, electricity generated from solar and wind prevented the use of imported coal worth $21.5 billion. If the same amount of electricity had been generated using natural gas, imports worth $43.3 billion would have been substituted, calculations showed.
With the reduction in fossil fuel use, the generation of 442.2 terawatt-hours prevented approximately 354 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions when compared with imported coal. When the same output is assumed to have come from natural gas, the amount of emissions prevented was approximately 177 million tons.
Generation increased over 10 years
Türkiye generated a total of 11,847 gigawatt-hours of electricity from solar and wind in 2015. This output replaced electricity that could have been generated using $300 million worth of imported coal and prevented approximately 9.5 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
As electricity generation from solar and wind increased in the following years, carbon emissions that could have resulted from fossil fuel use also declined. The data demonstrated Türkiye's renewable energy performance in line with its net-zero emissions target during the 2015-2025 period.
Bayraktar: Renewable energy investments will continue
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar announced that the 442.2 terawatt-hours of electricity generated from wind and solar between 2015 and 2025 prevented up to 354 million tons of carbon emissions. Bayraktar said that the same period also saw the prevention of fossil fuel imports worth tens of billions of dollars.
Bayraktar said Türkiye had risen to fifth place in Europe and 11th place worldwide in renewable energy. He stated that investments would continue in line with the goal of reaching 120,000 megawatts of installed capacity by 2035.
September 21 has been observed as World Zero Emissions Day since 2008. The day highlights the importance of reducing the effects of global warming, shrinking the carbon footprint and expanding the use of renewable energy sources.
