Wind Energy in Turkey

For more information regarding potential investment opportunities in the Turkish energy market, a law firm should be consulted.

Turkey has a considerable potential for electricity generation from wind. A study carried out in 2002 concluded that Turkey has a theoretical wind energy potential of nearly 90,000 MWe and an economical wind energy potential of about 10,000 MWe. The most promising region is in northwest Turkey, including the area around the Sea of Marmara. Turkey is now encouraging the construction of BOT wind power plants by private power developers. The first wind power facility in Turkey, the Ares wind farm, was commissioned in November 1998, and is located near the city of Izmer in western Turkey. That facility has 12 wind turbines for a total capacity of 7.2 MWe, and is owned by Gucbirligi Holding, Inc. The Bozcaada wind farm, also near Izmer, went into operation in 2000; it has 17 turbines for a total capacity of 10.2 MWe, and is owned by Demirer Holding, Inc.

Turkey has a goal of deriving 2% of its electricity from wind power. In 2000, the Government of Turkey had offered a tender for up to 390 MWe of electricity from windpower. About 25 potential sites for windpower projects had been identified and were undergoing evaluation, but the tender was canceled as part of the IMF-induced economic policy changes. Without the full sovereign guarantees that would in effect result in government subsidies to offset the relatively high expected cost of the power produced, none of 17 windpower projects that had received their BOT approvals have proceeded.


Current installed capacity   :     147 MW
License issued    :  1,374 MW  

Max. probable wind capacity of the Grid* :  2100  MW

Max. Estimated new capacity addition :    579  MW

As per the new Grid Code, Wind energy generation must not exceed 5% of the whole installed generation capacity. Based on 42,000 MW capacity today, the max probable wind capacity is 2100 MW. This figure is likely to increase as grid grows in future.

• New Law and regulation is enacted to encourage private investment. Currently accepted incentives are10 years buying guarantee by State utility at a fix price of 0.055 Euro per kwhrs and land ownership ease.
• Note that some investment incentives and customs tax immunity are already applied to renewable energy investments and spot market sales is exempt from TRT fee.