Turkey Energy Profile: 56 Indicators in One Place
Why Turkey's Energy Data Matters
Turkey sits at the crossroads of global energy, both geographically and strategically. It is the sixth-largest economy in Europe, a critical transit corridor for oil and gas pipelines, and one of the fastest-growing energy markets among OECD nations. Yet Turkey's energy profile is often overlooked in global rankings dominated by the US, China, and the EU.
With a population of 86 million and GDP growth that has averaged 4.5% over the past decade, Turkey's energy demand trajectory is one of the most consequential in the world. energtx now covers Turkey across all 56 indicators on our platform, providing the most comprehensive open dataset on Turkish energy available anywhere.
Turkey: Key Energy Indicators at a Glance (2024)
| Indicator | Value | Global Rank (of 56) | |-----------|-------|---------------------| | Primary Energy Consumption | 167.4 Mtoe | 15th | | Electricity Generation | 342 TWh | 14th | | Electricity from Coal | 33.2% | 16th | | Electricity from Natural Gas | 22.8% | 19th | | Electricity from Hydropower | 19.4% | 9th | | Electricity from Wind | 11.6% | 15th | | Electricity from Solar | 8.1% | 17th | | Renewable Share (total energy) | 14.8% | 18th | | CO2 Emissions (total) | 402 Mt | 16th | | CO2 Emissions (per capita) | 4.4 t | 32nd | | Energy Intensity (Mtoe/GDP) | 0.12 | 28th | | Natural Gas Imports | 51.2 bcm | 6th | | Oil Imports | 0.87 mb/d | 12th | | Installed Power Capacity | 108 GW | 13th | | Nuclear Generation | 0 TWh | N/A |
Data: energtx Research. Full Turkey dataset with historical trends at energtx.com/country/turkey.
Electricity Generation: A Mixed and Evolving Story
Turkey generated 342 TWh of electricity in 2024, up from 210 TWh in 2014, a growth rate of 63% in a single decade. Few major economies have matched this pace. This growth has been driven by urbanization, industrialization, and the electrification of heating via air-source heat pumps.
The generation mix tells a story of transition, but an incomplete one. Coal still accounts for 33.2% of electricity, with domestic lignite and imported hard coal forming the backbone. Natural gas provides 22.8%, down from a peak of 48% in 2012 as gas prices rose and alternatives expanded.
The renewable side of the ledger is more encouraging. Hydropower at 19.4% fluctuates with rainfall but remains the single largest renewable source. Wind energy has grown from under 3% in 2014 to 11.6% in 2024, driven by favorable wind resources along the Aegean and Marmara coasts. Solar at 8.1% is the fastest-growing source, benefiting from Turkey's strong irradiation levels, particularly in southeastern Anatolia.
The Coal Question
Turkey's relationship with coal is one of the most contentious topics in its energy policy. The government has historically promoted domestic lignite as an energy security measure, reducing dependence on expensive gas imports. Turkey operates approximately 22 GW of coal-fired capacity, including modern supercritical plants and aging lignite facilities.
Coal's contribution to electricity generation has remained stubbornly flat at 32-35% over the past five years, even as renewables have grown. New coal capacity additions in 2020-2023 partially offset coal retirements and renewable gains. This pattern distinguishes Turkey from most European peers, where coal has declined sharply.
The carbon implications are significant. Coal combustion accounts for approximately 40% of Turkey's total CO2 emissions. Without a coal phase-out plan, Turkey's ability to meet its 2053 net-zero target is questionable.
Natural Gas: Import Dependence and Diversification
Turkey imports over 95% of its natural gas, making it one of the most gas-dependent import economies in the world. In 2024, Turkey imported 51.2 bcm, sourced from Russia (approximately 40%), Azerbaijan (24%), Iran (15%), and LNG spot markets (21%).
The TANAP pipeline from Azerbaijan and the TurkStream pipeline from Russia have given Turkey physical supply diversity, but geopolitical risk remains. Turkey has actively expanded its LNG import infrastructure, with three FSRU terminals and one onshore regasification plant providing flexibility to source cargoes from the United States, Qatar, and Algeria.
Gas consumption has declined as a share of power generation but remains critical for residential heating and industrial use. Turkey consumed approximately 52 bcm in 2024, with heating demand creating sharp winter peaks that strain both supply infrastructure and government budgets.
Renewables: Ambitious Targets, Real Progress
Turkey has added more than 40 GW of renewable capacity since 2010, reaching approximately 58 GW of installed renewable capacity by the end of 2024. The breakdown:
| Renewable Source | Installed Capacity (GW) | Share of Total Capacity | |-----------------|------------------------|----------------------| | Hydropower | 32.1 | 29.7% | | Wind | 13.2 | 12.2% | | Solar | 11.8 | 10.9% | | Geothermal | 1.7 | 1.6% | | Biomass/Waste | 0.4 | 0.4% | | Total Renewables | 59.2 | 54.8% |
Data: TEIAS, energtx Research.
More than half of Turkey's installed power capacity is now renewable. However, the capacity factor of renewables is lower than thermal plants, so the generation share (39.1% for all renewables) lags behind the capacity share. This gap is particularly large for solar, where 10.9% of capacity produces 8.1% of generation.
Turkey has set a target of 120 GW of renewable capacity by 2035, which would require roughly doubling current installations. The government's YEKA auction program has attracted international developers, but grid integration challenges, land availability, and financing costs remain obstacles.
Per Capita Metrics: Low but Rising
Turkey's per capita energy consumption stands at approximately 1.9 toe (tonnes of oil equivalent), below the OECD average of 3.8 toe but nearly double the global average of 1.3 toe. Per capita CO2 emissions at 4.4 tonnes sit below the EU average (5.8 tonnes) but have doubled since 2000.
This upward trajectory sets Turkey apart from most developed economies, where per capita emissions are declining. As Turkish GDP per capita rises toward European levels, energy demand per capita is likely to continue increasing unless efficiency gains and electrification offset the growth.
The Nuclear Wildcard
Turkey's first nuclear power plant, Akkuyu on the Mediterranean coast, is expected to begin commercial operation in 2025-2026. Built by Russia's Rosatom under a build-own-operate model, Akkuyu will have 4,800 MW of capacity when fully operational, producing approximately 35 TWh per year, roughly 10% of Turkey's current electricity generation.
Akkuyu will be transformative for Turkey's energy profile. It will displace natural gas and some coal in the generation mix, reduce CO2 emissions by an estimated 30-35 Mt per year, and improve energy security by diversifying away from imported fossil fuels.
A second nuclear plant at Sinop on the Black Sea coast has been discussed for years but remains without a confirmed developer or timeline.
What the Data Shows
Turkey's energy profile in 2024 reveals a country in transition, adding renewables at an impressive pace but unable to break free from coal and gas. The key tension is between fast-growing energy demand and decarbonization. Unlike Germany or the United Kingdom, where flat or declining demand makes the renewable math easier, Turkey must decarbonize a power system that is simultaneously expanding.
The 56 indicators available on energtx capture this complexity in full. From electricity generation breakdowns and fuel import dependency to carbon intensity and per capita metrics, the Turkey country page provides the data foundation for serious analysis of one of the world's most dynamic energy markets.
Explore the full Turkey energy profile at energtx.com/country/turkey, or compare Turkey with any of the other 55 countries on energtx.com/datasets.