To sustain the pace of an energy-intensive heavy and manufacturing industry, securing energy supply has become Ankara’s top priority. Aware of its historical dependence on hydrocarbon imports, the country has launched a massive plan to diversify its energy mix and exploit its own resources. This comprehensive strategy is reshaping Turkey’s geopolitics while ensuring the competitiveness of its factories.
The Push for Natural Gas and Nuclear Power
The historic discovery of the Sakarya gas field in the Black Sea has changed the equation. By connecting this field to the national grid in record time, Turkish engineering has demonstrated its ability to carry out complex offshore operations. At the same time, the construction of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant aims to provide stable, controllable, and low-carbon baseload energy, which is essential for supplying the country’s industrial hubs without interruption.
The Exponential Boom in Renewable Energy
The real revolution is taking place in renewables. Wind, solar, geothermal, and hydropower now account for more than half of the country’s installed capacity. Turkey is not only producing green energy; it has also built a complete industrial value chain to manufacture its own solar panels and wind turbine blades. This clean energy is a major competitive advantage for Turkish exporting industries, especially in the face of new European carbon taxes such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, or CBAM.