Türkiye unveils National Energy 2040 plan with 36% electrification goal

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar unveiled Türkiye’s new energy roadmap, National Energy 2040, in Istanbul ahead of COP31. With electrification at the center of the vision, Bayraktar said they aim to reach a 36% electrification rate by 2040 and need $15 billion in annual investment.

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar unveiled the National Energy 2040 vision, which sets out Türkiye’s new energy architecture, at a launch event held at the Presidential Dolmabahçe Working Office in Istanbul. Electrification is at the center of the roadmap announced ahead of the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), which will be held in Antalya from November 9 to 20.

Speaking at the launch, Bayraktar said, “As Türkiye moves toward energy independence, we will move toward a world with more electricity in every area of the country’s economy.” Bayraktar stressed that a new era is beginning in which electricity use will increase across all areas of the economy, from industry and transportation to buildings and agriculture.

Türkiye targets 36% electrification by 2040

Bayraktar also addressed the target Türkiye will present to the world at COP31, saying, “The target Türkiye will present to the global community at COP31 is 35% electrification by 2035. Türkiye is advancing toward this target with a sound, realistic program. We want to bring Türkiye to 36% electrification by 2040.”

In remarks before the launch, Bayraktar had said that the spread of electric vehicles, the electrification of production processes, artificial intelligence applications and the growth of data centers would both increase the volume of electricity demand and change its nature. Bayraktar had said, “Our goal of full energy independence requires us to transform the entire system together, from production to transmission and from distribution to consumption.”

Annual investment need of $15 billion

Bayraktar said the focus of investment would shift in the new era, adding, “More investment than ever will be made in energy efficiency and electrification. We need $15 billion in annual investment.” The ministry has previously said that National Energy 2040 envisages approximately $100 billion in investment solely for electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure.

Renewables to provide 70% of energy

Renewable energy also has a prominent place in the vision. In remarks before the launch, Bayraktar said, “Renewable energy contributes to our security of supply while reducing our dependence on external sources as a domestic resource. It also fully aligns with our 2053 net-zero emissions target. By 2040, Türkiye will obtain approximately 70% of its energy from renewable energy sources.”

Bayraktar said the targets included in National Energy 2040 would be shared with international counterparts at COP31, adding, “We will explain the more resilient, flexible and secure energy system we will establish. We will also emphasize the importance of connectivity at the regional and global levels.” The roadmap was prepared as part of the “Century of Türkiye” vision and its goal of “A Fully Energy-Independent Türkiye.”

Video: TRT Haber. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Türkiye unveils National Energy 2040 plan with 36% electrification goal