T眉rkiye's installed wind power capacity has surged by 177% over the past decade, reaching 13,376 megawatts (MW), driven by rising demand for renewables, technological advances, and supportive government policies.
The country installed its first wind farm in 1998 in Cesme, a district of 陌zmir on the Aegean coast. Since then, the number of wind plants has grown to span across all seven geographical regions.
In June 2016, T眉rkiye's installed wind capacity stood at 4,822 MW. By mid-2025, that figure had climbed to over 13,000 MW鈥攎arking a rise of 177% over 10 years.
Industry experts point to strong policy support, maturing technology, and growing environmental awareness as key drivers of this transformation.
Global interest in renewable energy gained momentum following the oil crisis of 1973, although the trend slowed in the 1980s due to falling oil prices. However, renewed focus in the 1990s, driven by environmental concerns, led to significant developments in renewable technologies.
Today, advancements in wind turbine technology have made wind energy cost-competitive, while offering minimal environmental impact鈥攁 combination that has fueled widespread adoption worldwide.
- T眉rkiye must triple wind capacity growth to meet 2035 target
"Our average annual growth has reached 1,000 MW over the past decade鈥攖hree times higher than the previous 10-year period," Alper Kalayci, chairman of the Energy Industrialists and Businessmen Association (ENSIA), told Anadolu.
Looking ahead, Kalayci emphasized that reaching T眉rkiye's 2035 onshore wind target of 38.1 gigawatts will require boosting the annual capacity increase to around 2,300 MW.
"To achieve this pace, it's crucial to accelerate the 'super permit' process," he noted.
"In addition to streamlining approvals, strengthening our grid infrastructure will be key to integrating more wind energy into the system," Kalayci concluded.
By Gulsen Cagatay
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr