Installed Solar Power Capacity Surges 30% to Exceed 20,000 MW
As of February 16, Türkiye’s installed solar power capacity has exceeded 20,000 megawatts (MW), reaching a total of 20,398 MW. This marks a remarkable 39.3% increase compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry. During this timeframe, Türkiye’s total electricity installed capacity was recorded at 116,587 MW.
The surge in solar energy capacity is attributed to the commissioning of rooftop, field, and hybrid power plants. Solar power now ranks as the second largest renewable energy source in the country, following hydroelectric plants, and accounts for 17.5% of the total installed capacity—up from 13.8% on February 16 of the previous year.
Looking ahead, Türkiye aims to boost its solar and wind energy installed capacity to 120,000 MW by 2035. To achieve this ambitious goal, the country needs to install between 4,000 to 5,000 MW of solar capacity annually, along with further increases in other energy sectors.
Recent statistics indicate that the total installed power in Türkiye reached 13,043 MW by mid-February, with wind energy generated by approximately 280 operational plants and over 4,360 turbines distributed across the country’s seven regions. Currently, generating electricity from solar energy is 50% cheaper than producing it from coal and natural gas. However, a significant challenge remains: solar energy production halts without sunlight. To address this, the commissioning of storage-based solar power plants is set to begin in 2026, ensuring a continuous supply of electricity from solar sources.
Additionally, there are three experimental agricultural solar energy projects underway in Türkiye. The country is home to 75 photovoltaic panel manufacturers, with an annual production capacity of approximately 44.5 gigawatts. Among these manufacturers, three are capable of producing 6.1 GW of solar cells domestically each year.
Over the past 22 years, Türkiye’s energy demand has tripled. Official forecasts predict that electricity consumption will reach 380.2 TWh in 2025, increasing to 455.3 TWh in 2030, and anticipated to rise further to 510.5 TWh by 2035.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/turkiyes-solar-power-capacity-surges-30-to-over-20000-mw/
