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T\u00fcrkiye is making impressive strides in its energy transition as it prepares to host the COP31 climate change conference this November. <\/p>\n
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The country is now home to one of the biggest solar facilities in the world as well as one of Europe’s largest battery storage pipelines. <\/p>\n
Although coal remains T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s largest source of power, the nation is on its way to becoming a renewable pioneer for the region, experts say. <\/p>\n
T\u00fcrkiye outranks EU for battery storage<\/p>\n
A new report<\/a> by energy think tank Ember reveals that T\u00fcrkiye has quietly built one of Europe’s largest battery storage pipelines, surpassing any EU country. <\/p>\n Since 2022, the country has required new wind and solar projects to be paired with equivalent battery<\/a> capacity. This mandate triggered a record-breaking 221 GW of applications within months, with 33 GW already approved. <\/p>\n While the EU\u2019s top storage markets, such as Germany and Italy, sit at 12\u201313 GW, T\u00fcrkiye has created a pipeline equivalent to 83 per cent of its current wind and solar capacity.<\/p>\n “By mandating storage<\/a> with renewables, T\u00fcrkiye hasn’t just increased its targets; it has created a massive investment signal that outstrips its European peers,\u201d Ufuk Alparslan, the report\u2019s author, says. <\/p>\n \u201cIf delivered, T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s battery pipeline will be the backbone of a new, clean regional energy hub.\u201d<\/p>\n T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s sci-fi-esque solar facility impresses internet users<\/p>\n The report highlights that T\u00fcrkiye has emerged as a significant model within its region in 2025. <\/p>\n Wind and solar<\/a> reached a combined 22 per cent share of electricity generation, making T\u00fcrkiye the undisputed leader among 16 countries in the Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia. <\/p>\n It is the only country in this broader region where wind and solar have surpassed a 20 per cent share of electricity generation.<\/p>\n T\u00fcrkiye is home to the largest solar energy facility<\/a> in Europe. Kalyon Karap\u0131nar SPP has around 3.5 million solar panels spanning an area of approximately 20 million square metres, equivalent to the size of 2,600 football fields. <\/p>\n The Central Control Building was designed by Bilgin Architects. The giant rectangular prism is clad on the exterior with reflective silver panels, while inside there is a lush courtyard oasis open to the sky. <\/p>\n Images of the sci-fi-esque facility have impressed internet users, with one Reddit commenter suggesting it could feature in a new James Bond film and another calling it a \u201cmasterpiece\u201d.<\/p>\n The project, which has been producing energy since 2023, generates nearly three billion kilowatt-hours of electricity<\/a> annually, providing clean energy for the equivalent of a city of two million people.<\/p>\n \u2018Potential to be a pioneer for the entire region\u2019<\/p>\n Despite its progress on solar, T\u00fcrkiye still trails behind many European peers, ranking 15th in Europe for wind generation and 16th for total renewables generation<\/a>. The country will still need to triple its current solar and wind capacity to reach its 120 GW target for 2035, a tall order. <\/p>\n