Over the past 12 months, from September 2024 to August 2025, Turkey's electricity landscape showcases a significant reliance on fossil fuels, which comprise slightly more than half of its electricity generation, sitting at around 55%. Coal and gas are the primary fossil sources, contributing more than a third and a little over a fifth, respectively, to the total electricity output. On the other hand, low-carbon sources account for nearly 45% of Turkey's electricity. Hydropower, wind, and solar are the leading clean energy contributors, with hydropower generating almost 18%, wind over 11%, and solar exceeding 10% of the total electricity. Geothermal and biofuels are much smaller players, each constituting less than 3% of the total electricity but are still essential for a diversified low-carbon mix.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, IEA and World Bank. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Turkey?
In terms of growth, Turkey's electricity consumption is witnessing a positive trend. The latest data for 2025 indicates a total electricity consumption of 3924 kWh per person, which is slightly above the previous record of 3841 kWh per person set in 2024. This growth reflects an increase of 83 kWh per person. However, low-carbon generation has declined slightly, with the latest figures showing 1753 kWh per person compared to 1793 kWh in 2024, a decrease of 40 kWh. This simultaneous growth in overall consumption and the slight decline in low-carbon generation highlight the urgent need for Turkey to bolster its clean energy output to ensure that all new electricity demand is met with low-carbon sources.
Suggestions
To enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, Turkey can leverage its existing wind and solar infrastructure, which already play significant roles in the country's clean energy landscape. By expanding these technologies, Turkey can follow the example of successful regions worldwide, such as Denmark, where wind power accounts for nearly half of its electricity. Additionally, Turkey could consider investing in nuclear power, a dominant low-carbon source in countries like France, where it contributes almost 70% of the electricity. Reviewing the strategies of countries like Armenia and Bulgaria, which have smaller but still noteworthy nuclear components, could also provide insights for establishing or expanding nuclear energy capabilities in Turkey.
History
Historically, Turkey has experienced fluctuating trends in its low-carbon electricity generation, especially in hydropower. Significant increases were observed in years like 1988, 2002, 2010, 2015, and more recently in 2019 and 2022, while notable declines occurred in the late 1980s and various years like 2014 and 2021, highlighting the variability in water resource availability. Solar energy, a more stable and reliable source, has shown promising growth recently, with evident increases in 2024 and 2025, pointing towards its importance in the future energy mix. Consistent efforts to stabilize and grow these clean energy sources are crucial in charting a sustainable energy future for Turkey.
