Turkey and Saudi Arabia have formalized an energy cooperation agreement focused on expanding renewable energy capacity in Turkey. The nations signed a deal to add 3 GW of renewable energy capacity, bringing Turkey’s planned total to 5 GW. Saudi Arabia committed $2 billion to construct two solar farms in the eastern province of Sivas and the central province of Karaman, with a combined capacity of 2 GW. These facilities are projected to supply electricity to approximately 2.1 million households once operational.
Turkey has significantly expanded its overall energy infrastructure under recent leadership, with installed electricity capacity increasing from 32,000 megawatts to 126,000 megawatts over the past 24 years. The country now ranks as Europe’s third-largest in terms of installed electricity capacity and consumption. Domestic oil production has tripled while natural gas output has increased ninefold. Turkey is expected to double its Black Sea natural gas production in 2026 and quadruple it by 2028. Government officials view the country’s strategic geographic position as an opportunity to establish it as a major energy hub connecting the Middle East and Europe.
Renewable energy currently comprises a significant portion of Turkey’s electricity generation, with hydropower contributing around 17 percent and wind and solar accounting for approximately 22 percent as of 2025. However, coal remains the largest electricity source at around 34 percent of generation. Solar power generation doubled between 2023 and 2025, though it still represents just 10.5 percent of total electricity production. The government has launched auctions for 2.4 GW of solar and wind capacity, with bids due later this year.
Turkey has established a target of achieving 47 percent renewable energy generation by the end of the decade and aims to reach 120 GW of combined wind and solar capacity earlier than the 2035 target. Officials expect solar to become the country’s largest electricity source by year’s end. Power sector emissions have nearly doubled over two decades due to rising fossil fuel electricity production driven by increasing demand, though the growth in renewable capacity has helped moderate this increase.
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