In Türkiye, cooling-related electricity consumption increased by 26% in just the last three years, reaching 10 TWh in 2024. Its growing impact on the grid can be reduced through widespread adoption of solar energy, flexibility solutions and energy efficiency.
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Rising average temperatures in Türkiye are placing increasing strain on the electricity system due to growing demand for cooling each year. Over the past three years, Türkiye’s electricity consumption from space cooling rose by 26%, reaching 10 TWh in 2024. Between 2022 and 2024, the average annual growth rate of this demand was 12%. During the summer months, cooling demand accounted for 8% of total electricity consumption, with monthly consumption at times reaching 3 TWh – equivalent to three months of electricity needs of all industrial facilities in Istanbul.
During the same period, Türkiye’s electricity system recorded an all-time high in hourly consumption, reaching 59 GWh – 18% of which was attributed to cooling. In the summer months, more than 10% of electricity consumption between 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM came from cooling alone, with this share exceeding 18% on weekends and public holidays due to the low demand.
On the other hand, with the widespread adoption of air conditioning due to rising average air temperatures, Türkiye’s highest hourly electricity consumption has begun to occur in summer months rather than winter months since 2008. The difference between winter and summer peaks has increased 12-fold from 2008 to 2025, exceeding 9 GWh.
The growing gap between winter and summer peaks requires the design of production, transmission and distribution systems to handle the highest usage levels, even if they occur only for a few weeks each year. This reduces the capacity utilization rates of power generation plants, thereby increasing electricity production costs. Short-term demand surges also cause instantaneous loads on grid components such as transmission lines and transformer centres, increasing the risk of failures and outages.
Moreover, the burden of cooling-related consumption on the electricity grid is expected to grow in the coming years. Given that each 1 °C rise in temperature is estimated to require an additional 0.77 GW of electricity generation capacity, the strain on the grid from rising temperatures is likely to become even more acute. By 2035, electricity consumption from cooling could more than triple, reaching 35 TWh, while peak hourly electricity demand may increase by 1.5 times to 85 GWh.
To address rising cooling demand, measures such as expanding distributed solar power generation, strengthening data infrastructure on air conditioner usage, promoting energy efficiency policies and implementing flexibility solutions could help manage the grid in an efficient, clean and sustainable manner.
Cooling-related electricity consumption grew by 19% in 2024 compared to 2023, reaching 10 TWh. Between 2022 and 2024, the annual growth rate of electricity used for cooling was 12%, while the overall increase in electricity demand was 2.8%. The faster rise in cooling-related electricity use compared to total demand highlights the growing impact of potential future heatwaves in Türkiye.
On July 28, 2025, hourly electricity demand in Türkiye reached a record high of more than 59 GWh, with 18% of that demand driven by cooling needs. During the summer months, this share remains above 10% between 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM. This indicates that cooling should no longer be seen as a luxury consumption, but rather as a key and fundamental component of the electricity grid load.
Due to rising temperatures and increased air conditioning use, Türkiye’s highest hourly electricity demand has occurred in the summer months rather than in winter since 2008. That year, the gap between summer and winter peak demand was just 0.8 GW. By 2025, it had widened nearly 12-fold to 9.1 GW, as the summer peak grew 1.3 times faster than the winter peak over this period. These figures show that electricity demand for cooling during the summer is growing faster than total demand and is becoming a key factor in system planning.
Each 1 °C rise in temperature translates into an average need for an additional 0.77 GW of electricity generation capacity, further increasing the strain that climate change places on the grid. Based on the projection under this study, electricity use for cooling could more than double by 2030, reaching 20 TWh – and approach 35 TWh by 2035, representing a threefold increase compared to 2024. Similarly, Türkiye’s highest hourly electricity demand could grow by almost 50% by 2035, reaching 85 GWh.
Between 2019 and 2024, the share of solar power in meeting Türkiye’s electricity demand during peak cooling hours (12:00 PM –4:00 PM) more than doubled. This sharp increase reflects the growing role of solar in responding to rising midday electricity demand driven by cooling needs. Solar energy provides a direct advantage in relieving grid pressure thanks to the overlap between its peak generation and the hottest hours of the day. This alignment shows that solar is not only a clean energy source but also a sustainable and effective solution in meeting rising cooling demand.
The seasonal shift in electricity demand driven by rising cooling needs highlights the tangible impact of climate change on power grids. The data confirm that cooling is no longer a luxury but an increasingly essential demand. This trend shows that the strain on the grid during the summer months is growing – and has the potential to increase further in the future. However, with long-term planning based on accurate data, increasing the share of solar in the energy mix can support both a clean energy transition and enhanced energy supply security in Türkiye.
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