Türkiye has celebrated a remarkable century of growth in its electricity sector, with its installed capacity surging from a modest 33 megawatts (MW) in 1923 to an impressive 105,659 MW as of October 2023. This significant milestone comes as the nation commemorates its centennial Republic Day. Over the past century, the total installed electricity capacity has seen substantial increases at various points in time.
In 1923, Türkiye's electricity capacity stood at 33 MW, which grew to 78 MW in 1930, 217 MW in 1940, 407 MW in 1950, 1,271 MW in 1960, and 2,234 MW in 1970. The journey continued with the establishment of various power plants, including the first geothermal plant in Denizli in 1974 and the initial wind power plant in Izmir in 1998.
Türkiye also ventured into solar energy with the installation of its first solar power plant in Istanbul in 2011. The country's historical timeline in the energy sector includes the launch of hydroelectric power plants, coal-fired thermal plants, natural gas combined cycle power plants, and more.
In recent years, Türkiye has embraced renewable energy, with over 12,000 power plants now in operation. These include 10,479 solar energy plants, 752 hydroelectric plants, 384 biomass plants, 363 wind power plants, 95 waste heat plants, and 63 geothermal energy plants. The nation's dedication to clean energy has elevated it to the 5th position in Europe and the 12th position globally in terms of total installed renewable energy capacity. As of October 2023, Türkiye boasts 31,595 MW of hydroelectric capacity, 11,602 MW of wind power, 10,899 MW of solar energy, 2,438 MW of biomass and waste heat energy, and 1,691 MW of geothermal energy.
This incredible growth and commitment to clean energy underscore Türkiye's significant role on the global energy stage, positioning it as a key player in the renewable energy sector.
Source: aa.com.tr