Türkiye sets ambitious goal for carbon-neutral economy within 30 years
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar speaks in "Challenges and Opportunities for a Resilient Future" Ministerial Session of the Istanbul Energy Forum, in Istanbul, Türkiye, Nov. 22, 2024. (AA Photo)
Türkiye has set its sights on becoming a carbon-neutral economy within 30 years, a target that Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar acknowledged on Wednesday as transformative for the country’s economy.
“This is a more difficult target than the others because it will actually affect the whole economy,” Bayraktar said Wednesday at the 6th Turkish-German Energy Forum in Berlin. “Our carbon target is an area that will transform energy from the ground up.”
The forum, co-hosted with German Economic Affairs and Climate Action Minister Robert Habeck, provided a platform for Türkiye to outline its ambitious plans for renewable energy. Bayraktar announced a roadmap to attract $100 billion in renewable energy investments by 2035, urging German investors to participate in the energy transition.
Under the plan, Türkiye aims to boost its wind and solar energy capacity from the current 31,000 megawatts to 120,000 megawatts by 2035.
Bayraktar also highlighted the role of nuclear energy in achieving decarbonization. With the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant expected to meet 10% of Türkiye’s electricity demand once fully operational, the minister said the country plans to further expand its nuclear energy capacity by 2050.
