Türkiye could slash its natural gas import bills by nearly $4 billion annually by fully utilizing its current wind power capacity, according to İbrahim Erden, chairman of the Turkish Wind Energy Association (TÜREB). Erden explained that every 1,000 megawatts of installed wind power capacity reduces gas imports by about $250 million per year at current energy prices. With Türkiye’s wind power capacity exceeding 16 gigawatts, the potential savings are substantial.
Erden highlighted that renewable energy sources have contributed over 40% of Türkiye’s electricity generation in recent years, with that share surpassing 60% in the first eight months of this year. Globally, wind power installations grew by 165,000 megawatts last year, with Türkiye adding 2,000 megawatts to its capacity. The country recently raised its combined wind and solar installed capacity target for 2035 to 120 gigawatts, with TÜREB aiming for wind power to account for 48 gigawatts of that total.
To meet the 2035 target, Türkiye needs to add around 8,000 megawatts of new wind and solar capacity annually. Erden noted that reaching TÜREB’s 48-gigawatt wind power target could triple electricity generation from wind, potentially reducing natural gas imports by $10 billion to $12 billion per year under current price and production assumptions.