ANKARA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- As renewable energy plays an increasingly important role in Trkiye's installed power capacity, experts have highlighted both the rapid growth of solar energy and the urgent need to modernize the grid to ensure a stable green transition.
"Solar is not only about generation anymore; it is about creating a local industry," Tayfun Hiz, a researcher at the Center for Solar Energy Research and Applications of Middle East Technical University in Ankara, told Xinhua recently.
"Trkiye is already building panels, inverters and related technologies domestically. If we align research, manufacturing and policy, solar can become a driver of exports as well as clean energy at home," he added.
Muhdan Saglam, director of Ankara-based think tank the Center for Energy and Climate Change Studies at the Economic Policy Research Foundation, emphasized the next phase of the energy transition: "Trkiye has shown it can build renewable power quickly, but the real challenge now is to integrate these resources smoothly into the system."
"To solve this, Trkiye will need to invest in stronger power lines, storage systems such as batteries, and smarter electricity markets. Without these steps, it may be difficult to use all the renewable power being built," she told Xinhua.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced at the UN Climate Summit 2025 held Wednesday in New York that more than 60 percent of Trkiye's installed electricity capacity now comes from renewable sources, including hydropower, wind and solar.
He outlined new measures including an emissions trading system and green finance tools. "In line with our net-zero emissions target for 2053, we will continue to transform key sectors," Erdogan added.
The renewable expansion also supports Trkiye's goal of reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels, and enhancing energy security through sun, wind and water resources.
Official data showed that Trkiye's solar power has doubled since 2021, reaching over 21 gigawatts of capacity by early 2025, while wind power has steadily expanded and hydropower remains the backbone with over 32 gigawatts of capacity.
The Turkish government aims to reach around 120 gigawatts of combined solar and wind capacity by 2035, while continuing to develop hydropower, geothermal and biomass.
Saglam warned that without proper grid infrastructure, renewable energy potential in Trkiye cannot be fully realized.
Citing the massive blackout in the Iberian Peninsula in late April as an example of grid vulnerability, Saglam stressed that "necessary investments have to be made to support the grid."
Phasing out coal by 2035 at the latest would be essential for Trkiye to meet its 2053 climate neutrality goal, she said, adding that the coming years will reveal whether Trkiye can turn its ambitious plans into lasting change, combining climate action with energy security and economic benefits.
