IEA: Turkey a Low Carbon Future Role of the Lignite Power Plant should think again

IEA’s new report on Turkey in the energy sector emissions of the last 10 years show a 43% increase specified, rethinking the role of a low-carbon future lignite power plants and determine new targets are recommended.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) “Turkey 2021: Energy Policy Assessment” according to the report, Turkey’s last 20 years of population growth and economic growth has boosted energy demand and dependence on imported resources. Turkey, in order to ensure security of energy supply has accelerated its oil and gas exploration activities.

Renewable energy capacity increased by 50% over the last five years, Turkey, 2019 in most of the countries that make up the 5th renewable energy capacity in Europe, and ranks 15th in the world. The share of renewable energy sources in electricity generation was 44% in 2019.

The renewable energy tenders that were held succeeded in reducing costs and increasing renewable energy investments.

According to the report, Turkey’s renewable energy up to 21 thousand megawatts of installed capacity in 2024 is expected to grow 49% increase.

On the other hand, solar energy potential of the estimated 3%, while 15% use of wind energy potential, Turkey may show stronger growth in renewable energy and use these resources in different sectors except electricity production.

The Role of Lignite Power Plants Must Reconsidered

According to the report, Turkey’s modern and the sustainability of the energy sector to create a competitive economy and needs to focus on reducing carbon emissions. In this context, it is recommended to rethink the role of lignite power plants in a low carbon future and to set new targets.

Emissions from the energy sector showed a 43% increase in the last 10 years in Turkey. While electricity and heating were the sectors with the highest emission emissions, these sectors were followed by transportation and industry. Coal since 1997, was the largest source of emissions in Turkey.

The report cited the assessment Fatih Birol, IEA president, said that Turkey in the last 10 years, largely diversify energy sources, “hydroelectric, solar and renewable energy, particularly wind showed impressive growth. During this period, significant progress was made in the liberalization of energy markets and increasing energy security ”.

The 191-page report included the following recommendations:

* In order to keep system costs low, market support mechanisms such as EÜAŞ ‘purchase of a large part of the electricity produced and subsidies should be removed gradually.

* Access to finance should be facilitated, incentives and market mechanisms should be significantly strengthened for energy efficiency projects, especially those in the industrial and construction sectors.

* By providing demand reduction to reduce oil consumption and to ensure a change of fuels used in the transport sector, government policies should create a program that will affect the overall, this program must also include electric vehicles * Turkey should be increased competition in the gas market and BOTAS’s dominance in the market should be reduced

* Long-term goals should be determined to ensure that the potential of technologies in the field of renewable energy is utilized to the maximum extent.

* Medium-long term emission targets and domestic air pollution targets should be determined, sustainable energy policies should be guided, and a plan should be prepared that predicts the peak period of emissions.