Türkiye's energy sector between systemic constraints, power ambitions, and sustainability efforts

Unofficial AI-generated summary based on the public title and abstract. Not an official translation.

🔬研究者:Provides a case study of energy transition in a geopolitically constrained middle power, useful for comparative energy policy research.

🏢実務担当者:Highlights the importance of policy consistency and investment continuity for renewable energy deployment, relevant for corporate strategy in emerging markets.

🏛政策担当者:Offers lessons on integrating energy security and climate goals, particularly for countries with high external energy dependence.

Abstract: The energy sector in the twenty-first century is simultaneously characterised by high interdependency and frequent destabilisation stemming from international crises and conflicts. In this context, a middle power like Türkiye needs to navigate the uncertainties and constant shocks of the energy domain by adopting consistent long-term strategies. The Turkish energy sector is marked by limited domestic energy resources, dependence on external supplies, proximity to both energy-rich and highly energy-consuming countries, and steadily increasing domestic demand, driven by population and GDP growth. To stabilise the country’s energy sector, Ankara has, over the past twenty-five years, adopted several policies to diversify and strengthen it. Firstly, it has exploited its geostrategic location to become a crucial energy hub connecting all the regions around its territory, especially Russia, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and Southern Europe. Secondly, it has invested in its renewable energy sector to boost its self-sufficiency, decrease its dependence on external fossil fuel supplies, and meet the responsibilities undertaken at the international level through the ratification and announcement of ambitious sustainability goals, of which the net-zero carbon target by 2053 and the adherence to the 2016 Paris Agreement represent the most outstanding examples. Despite the important results achieved in the renewable energy domain, both investments and institutional maneuvers to meet the set objectives have proved discontinuous, and much remains to be done to achieve the net-zero target. Nevertheless, given the intertwining of domestic energy supply shortages, high exposure to climate change-related consequences, and increased vulnerability stemming from external dependence on power supplies, Türkiye has much to gain from sustained implementation of policies promoting the use of sustainable and renewable energy sources.

• openalex https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19525436first seen 2026-05-05 19:13:13