Renewable Energy Technologies Workshop Held

Speaking at the Renewable Energy Technologies Workshop, Türkiye Exporters Assembly Chairman Mustafa Gültepe emphasized that Türkiye has recorded remarkable growth, particularly in solar energy. Gültepe stated, “As of 2023, we have increased our solar energy capacity to 9.7 gigawatts and our wind energy capacity to 10.3 gigawatts. Domestic production and supply in these installations are of utmost importance to us.”

Organized by the Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TİM), the Renewable Energy Technologies Workshop took place at the Şehit Ömer Halisdemir Conference Hall within the TİM Foreign Trade Complex. Delivering the opening speech of the workshop, moderated by Prof. Dr. Adnan Midilli, Director of the ITU Energy Institute and Head of the Renewable Energy Department, Chairman Mustafa Gültepe highlighted that Türkiye ranks 11th globally and 5th in Europe in terms of installed renewable energy capacity. Stressing that Türkiye has strengthened its global competitive edge through substantial investments, particularly in solar and wind energy, Gültepe continued:

“We need to increase our renewable energy capacity by an annual average of 16.4%”

“As TİM, we established the Renewable Energy Technologies Working Group two years ago to support this progress, facilitate the expansion of our exporters, and enhance our high-value-added export capacity. To export renewable energy products, we must also be a strong domestic user of these technologies. By the end of 2023, Türkiye's renewable energy capacity reached 58.8 gigawatts, with a significant portion coming from hydroelectric energy. Our country has raised the share of renewable energy in total electricity production to 42%, achieving a critical milestone on the path to energy independence. In particular, we are witnessing remarkable growth in solar energy. As of 2023, our solar energy capacity has reached 9.7 gigawatts, a scale that makes a significant contribution to our ambition of becoming a regional leader in this field. Similarly, our wind energy capacity reached 10.3 gigawatts in the same period. Local production and supply in these installations are of great importance to us, as we aim not only to utilize these technologies domestically but also to export them worldwide. In this regard, we have been following a promising trajectory. However, we are fully aware that achieving global targets will require greater effort. The global objective is to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030, and to align with this, we must increase our capacity by an annual average of 16.4%. With this perspective in mind, our workshop will serve as a platform where industry representatives and ecosystem stakeholders can define our roadmap.”

“The renewable energy market stands at $1.2 trillion”

TİM Vice Chairman and Head of the Renewable Energy Technologies Working Group, Çetin Tecdelioğlu, underscored the necessity of taking renewable energy seriously to advance industrial growth and boost high-value-added exports. He remarked, “By 2023, the renewable energy market has reached a size of $1.2 trillion. Türkiye currently holds a mere 1.5% share of this enormous market. The market is projected to grow to $2.5 trillion by 2023. By this time, we can enhance our exports of value-added products by leveraging our existing resources, including aluminum, copper, stainless steel, and chemical components, to meet global expectations. This is precisely why we are here today—to raise awareness and drive action toward this goal.”

Tecdelioğlu also pointed out that a new concept, Green Taxonomy, has recently emerged in the business world and elaborated further:

“We will be hearing a lot about this concept in the coming period. What is taxonomy, and how will it impact us? Recently, the Taxonomy Regulation was published. The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change will accept sustainability reports from companies only if they meet the criteria outlined in this regulation. In other words, the Taxonomy Regulation will serve as the Ministry's official guideline for sustainability reporting. By 2027, all companies registered with the Capital Markets Board (SPK), businesses governed by the Banking Law, insurance firms, private pension companies, and numerous other institutions will be required to comply with taxonomy regulations.”

“Energy independence is critical for strategic autonomy”

Prof. Dr. Kerem Alkin also addressed the audience, emphasizing that geopolitical risks have intensified countries' aspirations to achieve self-sufficiency in critical sectors, particularly energy. Highlighting that "Strategic Autonomy" is a key pursuit in this context, Alkin remarked, “Countries, including Türkiye, must regard energy independence as a strategic priority.”