Renewable share in power generation hits 26-year high

Türkiye has emerged as the second-largest hydropower producer in Europe, securing a prominent place in the continent's renewable energy landscape. According to the International Hydropower Association's (IHA) 2026 World Hydropower Outlook, Türkiye achieved an installed hydropower capacity of approximately 32,294 megawatts (MW) in 2025. This figure positions Türkiye just behind Norway, placing it ahead of major European economies such as France, Spain, and Italy. On a global scale, Türkiye ranks ninth in hydropower capacity, following nations like China, Brazil, the United States, Canada, India, Russia, Japan, and Norway.

The report highlights that global installed hydropower capacity reached 1,469 gigawatts (GW) in 2025, with 1,269 GW coming from conventional hydropower and 201 GW from pumped-storage facilities. During the year, 28 GW of new hydropower capacity was commissioned, while pumped-storage projects saw their largest annual capacity increase on record at 11.6 GW. China contributed over 40% of the world's hydropower capacity additions. In 2025, global hydropower generation amounted to 4,495 terawatt-hours (TWh), nearly matching the combined output of wind and solar power, reinforcing hydropower's status as the world's largest renewable electricity source.

In Türkiye, stronger seasonal rainfall has led to higher reservoir levels, contributing to record renewable electricity generation. In the first four months of 2026, hydroelectric generation reached 34.7 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), the highest hydropower output ever recorded for that period. Türkiye's total installed electricity capacity now exceeds 125,000 MW, with about 63% derived from renewable sources. This shift underscores Türkiye's strategic efforts to diversify its energy supply, reduce reliance on imports, and enhance long-term energy security.

Elvan Tuğsuz Güven, Chair of the Hydroelectric Power Plants Industrialists and Business Association, emphasized the need for accelerated investment in pumped-storage hydropower to support Türkiye's energy transition. He pointed out that rising electricity demand, energy security concerns, and the rapid expansion of wind and solar capacity have renewed interest in hydropower investments. The global hydropower development pipeline stands at 1,127 GW, with 621 GW allocated to pumped-storage projects and 506 GW to conventional hydropower projects. Over 390 GW of these projects are already under construction.

Güven highlighted the importance of hydropower in modern power systems, noting that it provides essential services such as flexibility, balancing, reserve capacity, and grid stability. He argued that as Türkiye expands its solar and wind generation, reservoir-based hydropower plants and pumped-storage facilities become increasingly vital. He suggested that long-duration pumped-storage projects could complement battery storage investments, helping to reduce Türkiye's dependence on imported energy and enhancing renewable-based electricity storage capacity.

Recent developments indicate that Türkiye is making strides in renewable energy beyond hydropower. A report by BloombergNEF (BNEF) titled "Turkey Transition Factbook 2026" revealed that Türkiye ranked fifth globally in wind power installations and tenth in solar power installations in 2025. The country is expected to add 25 gigawatts of new wind power capacity between 2026 and 2035, with YEKA projects accounting for around 37% of new wind installations during this period. Additionally, nearly 19 gigawatts of licensed energy storage-integrated wind power projects are anticipated to significantly boost Türkiye's renewable energy capacity.

In the realm of solar power, Türkiye added 6.4 gigawatts of new capacity in 2025, ranking it tenth globally. By 2030, the country's installed solar power capacity is projected to nearly double. These advancements reflect Türkiye's commitment to expanding its renewable energy infrastructure and reducing its carbon footprint.

In May 2026, Türkiye set a new record for renewable energy usage, with renewables accounting for 72.3 percent of electricity generation. This marked the highest level in the past 26 years, with coal's contribution dropping to 17 percent, its lowest since 2004. Data from Energy Exchange Istanbul (EPİAŞ) indicated that renewable electricity generation reached record levels both monthly and hourly. At 1 p.m. on May 24, renewables supplied 84 percent of the country's electricity, the highest hourly level in the past 12 years.

Hydropower played a pivotal role in this achievement, benefiting from above-average seasonal rainfall. Between January 1 and May 31, hydropower plants generated 46.4 billion kWh of electricity, while wind and solar power plants produced 18 billion kWh and 14.2 billion kWh respectively. Each of these sources reached their highest production levels for the first five months of the year.

Ufuk Alparslan, Türkiye and Caucasus Regional Lead at Ember, noted that the May records demonstrate the growing influence of renewable energy in Türkiye's electricity system. He emphasized that the rise in renewable energy's share is a critical development for the energy transition, pointing out that only around 16 percent of Türkiye's energy imports are related to electricity generation. Alparslan advocated for a broader approach to the energy transition, suggesting that areas beyond the electricity sector—such as road transportation, which constitutes about one-third of Türkiye's energy imports—should be integrated into the country's energy planning. He proposed expanding the use of domestically produced electric vehicles, electric public transport, and rail system investments alongside renewable energy initiatives to further reduce energy dependence and promote energy independence.