Turkey Outpaces EU in Battery Storage Approvals
Since 2022, Turkey has approved over 33GW of battery capacity for its electricity grid, surpassing any single European Union member state, according to findings by the climate thinktank Ember. This development highlights a shift as wealthier nations appear to lose momentum in the transition to a clean economy.
In comparison, leading European countries that began deploying battery storage earlier, such as Germany and Italy, have a combined planned and operational capacity of 12-13GW. Turkey, a coal-dependent economy bridging Europe and Asia, is among several developing nations experiencing rapid growth in clean technology adoption, driven by declining costs and ongoing fossil fuel crises.
Upcoming Climate Summit and Turkey's Role
These findings emerge as diplomats prepare to convene in Antalya, Turkey, in November for the Cop31 climate summit. Ufuk Alparslan, an analyst at Ember and author of the report, emphasized the impact of Turkey's policies on battery storage investment:
"Policy choices in Turkey had created a ‘massive investment signal’ in battery storage that outstripped its European peers. If delivered, Turkey’s battery pipeline will be the backbone of a new, clean regional energy hub."
Importance of Battery Storage for Renewable Energy
Batteries enhance the effectiveness of renewable energy sources dependent on weather conditions, such as wind turbines and solar panels. By storing electricity for use when generation is low, batteries reduce dependence on fossil fuels during periods without sunlight or wind.
European energy experts have advocated for increased investment in electricity grids and battery storage to reduce pollution, lower energy costs, and decrease reliance on foreign energy suppliers. These calls have intensified following the Iran war, which triggered the latest energy crisis.
Turkey's Battery Storage Policy and Capacity
Turkey's substantial number of battery projects stems from a 2022 mandate granting preferential grid access to renewable energy installations paired with an equivalent amount of storage capacity. Of 221GW of battery storage applications submitted, Turkey has approved 33GW, representing 83% of its current wind and solar capacity, according to the report. Only one EU country has a higher ratio.
Greg Nemet, an energy researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison not involved in the report, commented on the global trend:
"The dramatic growth of solar and batteries in some countries, especially in the global south, had come as the cost of both had fallen by nearly 90% in the last decade. Cheap solar and batteries create a tremendous opportunity for creating a cheap, clean and reliable energy system. Countries like Turkey are taking advantage of that."
Turkey's Energy Mix and Future Targets
Currently, Turkey generates approximately 20% of its electricity from wind and solar, a proportion higher than any country in the Middle East or Central Asia but below the European average. Despite this, coal remains a significant energy source, supported by extensive subsidies and accounting for 34% of electricity generation last year.
Turkey aims to reach 120GW of installed wind and solar capacity by 2035, up from 40GW today. However, the 6.5GW added last year fell short of the 8GW annual increase required to meet this target, the report noted.
Climate Summit Preparations and Policy Challenges
An early draft of Turkey’s proposed “action agenda” for Cop31, which was leaked, omitted references to the phaseout of fossil fuels—a topic that received considerable attention at the previous year’s climate summit in Brazil.
Alparslan highlighted ongoing challenges:
"Turkey still faced several hurdles in realising the proposed battery projects, such as permit bottlenecks and reliance on spot electricity market prices. Turkey also had a less pressing need for big batteries than many European countries owing to large hydropower dams that provided clean base-load power. The approach appears somewhat overcautious, rather than fully forward-looking. Turkey has nonetheless sent a strong investment signal that surpasses those of its European counterparts."
