Saudi Arabia and Turkey have formalized a major agreement to develop 3 gigawatts (GW) of wind power projects in Turkey. This deal is part of a larger 5 GW renewable energy initiative announced earlier this year, led by Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power. The program includes 2 GW of solar projects in Sivas and Karaman, followed by the 3 GW wind phase.
The wind capacity under this new agreement represents 20% of Turkey’s current wind power generation capacity. Turkish energy minister Alparslan Bayraktar emphasized the deepening strategic energy cooperation with Saudi Arabia, noting that the deal aligns with Turkey’s goal of installing 10 GW of new low-carbon capacity annually.
Saudi Arabia, despite being a major oil producer, has ambitious plans for renewable energy. The kingdom aims to generate 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2060. These efforts are part of the Vision 2030 program, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The solar phase of the program was announced earlier this year, with Saudi Arabia committing approximately $2 billion to two installations in Sivas and Karaman, totaling 2 GW. Once operational, these projects are expected to meet the electricity needs of around 2.1 million households. Bayraktar highlighted that these investments are financed entirely through external sources, including credit from international financial institutions.