According to the latest report by Ember Energy, Turkey’s solar installed capacity has doubled from 9.7GW in July 2022 to over 19GW by the end of 2024, surpassing the 2025 target two years ahead of schedule.
In recent years, benefiting from decreasing PV costs, enhanced policy support, and growing investor interest, PV’s share in Turkey’s electricity mix has consistently increased. The report highlights that the government’s strategy to promote renewable energy self-sufficiency has played a crucial role in the rapid development of the PV industry.
This growth trend aligns with the global PV expansion, with the promotion of net metering and self-consumption policies further driving the increase in residential and commercial PV installations.
Despite significant breakthroughs in PV installations, Turkey’s rooftop PV potential remains largely untapped. The report points out that rooftop PV alone has the potential to add 120GW of installed capacity, more than six times the current national total.
The development of distributed PV not only enhances energy security and reduces dependence on fossil fuel imports but also effectively lowers electricity costs for businesses and households. However, grid bottlenecks, unclear policies and regulations, and limited financing channels still constrain the deployment of distributed PV. Ember believes that addressing these barriers will further unleash Turkey’s PV growth potential.
Currently, utility-scale PV is the main driver of Turkey’s PV growth, but distributed PV (including rooftop PV) still faces challenges such as policy and grid access. Experts urge the government to strengthen incentives for small PV projects, simplify approval processes, and upgrade grid infrastructure to fully realize the country’s PV potential.
Driven by continuous policy support and investment, Turkey is poised to become a leading regional PV developer, accelerating the transition to clean energy while achieving long-term electricity affordability and energy independence.
Additionally, Ember’s recently released “European Electricity Review Report for 2024” reveals that PV power generation has surpassed coal-fired power generation in the EU for the first time, marking a significant shift in Europe’s energy mix.
