Türkiye generates the most electricity from coal in Europe

Coal-fired electricity generation increases, but nears peak

In 2024, electricity generation from domestic coal increased by 2.4% year-on-year to 47 TWh, but remained behind its peak in 2019 (53 TWh). Electricity generation from imported coal also continued to increase. As a result, coal-fired electricity generation in Türkiye reached an all-time high of 122 TWh by 2024.

Although electricity generation from coal continued to rise, its share of total electricity generation fell to 36%, a slight decline from 37% in 2023. This was due to a rise in electricity demand which was primarily met by renewables.

Although no new coal-fired power plants are currently under construction in Türkiye, there is a plan to expand by adding two new units to an existing coal-fired power plant. If this project does not materialise, electricity generation from coal in Türkiye is close to peaking and is expected to stabilise with little to no growth after 2024.

Türkiye surpasses Germany in coal-fired electricity generation

In Germany and Poland, the two countries with the highest coal-fired electricity generation in Europe, coal-fired electricity generation in 2024 decreased by 17% and 8% respectively. Across the EU, this drove a 50 TWh year-on-year decrease in electricity generation from coal (-16%). As of 2024, the share of coal in the total electricity generation of the European Union countries has fallen below 10%.

Coal-fired electricity generation in Türkiye reached a new record in 2024. As coal continued to decline in Europe, this made Türkiye the country that generates the most electricity from coal in Europe in absolute terms. In 2024, Türkiye’s coal-fired electricity generation was 122 TWh, compared to 104 TWh in Germany and 91 TWh in Poland. However, when the 20 countries with the highest electricity consumption in Europe are compared, Türkiye ranks third after Poland (54%) and the Czech Republic (36.5%) in terms of the share of coal in electricity generation.

Share of fossil at historic low level

Record decline in fossil share driven by gas

Gas has played a significant role in Türkiye’s power system since the 1980s. Electricity generation using gas began in November 1985, and its role in electricity generation rapidly increased with the 25-year gas import agreement signed with the Soviet Union in 1986. By 1999, the share of gas in electricity generation had reached 32% and it did not fall below 30% until 2019 when it dropped to 18.2%. This was due to record hydro power production.

In the 2000s, the share of gas fluctuated to provide between a third and a half of Türkiye’s power. The variability was due to hydro conditions, with gas ramping up or down in reaction to how much electricity hydro was able to produce. In 2024, the share of gas in power generation dropped back to similarly low levels as 2019, reaching 18.5%. Gas generation also fell in absolute terms, decreasing by 3 TWh year-on-year. However, this decline is likely to be temporary due to fluctuations in hydropower generation and increasing electricity demand.

With gas nearing a record low share in generation in 2024, the overall share of fossil fuels in Türkiye’s electricity mix also decreased to 55%. This marks the lowest level since 1993, when fossil fuels accounted for 54% of electricity generation.

Türkiye still relies on imports both in coal and gas

Gas used in Türkiye is nearly all from imported sources. In 2020, domestic gas production in Türkiye increased slightly with the increase in production from the Sakarya natural gas field. However, this amount met only 4% of Türkiye’s gas consumption in 2024 while the rest was imported.

A significant portion of gas demand in Türkiye arises from electricity generation, meaning gas power is a driver for gas imports. In 2024, more than a quarter of gas consumption was used for electricity generation. This rate can rise to as high as 35% in years like 2021, when electricity generation from gas reached a record high, leading to a total gas consumption of 60 billion cubic meters in the country.

As with gas power, the majority of coal-fired electricity generation in Türkiye is fuelled by imports. In 2024, 61% of coal-fired electricity generation came from coal power plants relying on imports.

Wind and solar outperform domestic coal power’s peak

In 2024, wind and solar generated more electricity than domestic coal for the second year in a row: wind and solar generated 62 TWh, compared to domestic coal at 47 TWh in 2024. What’s more, this surpassed the historic peak domestic coal generation of 53 TWh in 2019. This is likely to be a permanent overtaking. Even if the only new coal power plant expansion in Türkiye, a 688 MW project, is commissioned, electricity generation from domestic coal would still be below the total generated by wind and solar.

With gas falling to historic lows, wind and solar electricity generation (62 TWh) is already very near to the level of electricity generation from gas (63 TWh). Although the rise of wind and solar in Türkiye is expected to continue, it is too early to say they have permanently overtaken gas in electricity generation. With hydro generation affected by drought and electricity demand increasing every year, a rise in electricity generation from gas and gas imports is likely.

In addition to the rise of wind and solar energy in Türkiye, the rise in electricity demand will be one of the key factors determining the future composition of Türkiye’s electricity system and the amount of fossil fuel imports.