45% of Electricity Consumption Could Be Met with Solar Energy

Turkey's rooftop solar energy potential could create a capacity of at least 120 gigawatts, making it possible to meet 45% of electricity consumption through solar power plants installed on roofs. Energy think tank Ember analysed high-resolution satellite imagery to calculate the solar energy potential on roofs outside the 11 provinces declared disaster areas and classified roofs according to their suitability for panel installation. The analysis, which demonstrates that solar energy capacity installed on roofs could play an important role in Turkey's energy transition, determined that Turkey's rooftop solar energy potential could create a capacity of at least 120 gigawatts. It was calculated that 148 terawatt-hours of electricity could be generated annually from this capacity that could be installed on roofs, thereby meeting 45% of Turkey's total electricity consumption in 2022 from these power plants. According to the report, subsidies on electricity tariffs in residences, the consumer category with the lowest electricity tariff in Turkey, reached approximately USD 3.6 billion during the 12-month period from September 2022 to August 2023. It was determined that through solar power plants that could be installed on roofs, Turkey could reduce its dependence on fossil fuel sources in electricity production and achieve savings from financial incentives given in electricity tariffs. According to Ember, the absence of land requirements, production at the point of consumption and being an electricity generation method in which everyone can participate make these power plants more attractive. In the total 120 gigawatts of rooftop solar energy potential calculated within the scope of the study, Istanbul led with 10.4 gigawatts, Ankara with 10.1 gigawatts and Izmir with 9.3 gigawatts on a city basis. This potential was measured at 3.1 gigawatts in Manisa, 2.8 gigawatts in Afyon, 2.5 gigawatts in Kocaeli and 1.9 gigawatts in Tekirdağ. In electricity generation of 148 terawatt-hours that could be produced by utilizing rooftop solar energy potential, Ankara ranked first with 12.5 terawatt-hours and Izmir with 12.4 terawatt-hours on a city basis, with this capacity determined as 11.4 terawatt-hours for Istanbul. Production potential was calculated at 8.6 terawatt-hours in Konya, 6.4 terawatt-hours in Manisa, 5.4 terawatt-hours in Bursa, 5.3 terawatt-hours in Afyon and 4.7 terawatt-hours in Balıkesir. Production potential was determined at 5.5 terawatt-hours in Antalya and 4.5 terawatt-hours in Muğla. Looking at the ratio of rooftop solar energy generation potential meeting billed electricity consumption by province, this ratio was estimated at 113% in Konya, 88% in Ankara and 76% in Izmir. From major cities in the north that receive less sun, are industrialized and have high electricity consumption, this ratio was calculated as 27% in Istanbul and 42% in Bursa.

Rooftop installations worldwide accounted for half of new solar capacity

Rooftop solar power plants accounted for 118 gigawatts of the total 239 gigawatts of new solar energy capacity commissioned globally last year. Rooftop solar power plant installations increased 49% year-over-year last year, with Australia leading in per capita solar energy capacity as of 2022. One in every three homes in the country has a rooftop solar power plant. This country was followed by the Netherlands and Germany, which obtain 40% of their electricity production from solar energy from residential rooftops. In EU countries, rooftop power plants accounted for 66% of installed solar energy capacity as of the end of 2022.

Rooftop potential nearly 10 times current solar energy capacity

Ember Regional Leader Ufuk Alparslan, in his assessment of the analysis, stated that priority is being given to rooftops in energy transition policies being implemented globally. Noting that Turkey has ambitious targets in solar energy, Alparslan stated: "Turkey's rooftops hold a potential nearly ten times the current installed solar energy capacity. In addition to the potential on existing rooftops, tens of thousands of new buildings are constructed in Turkey every year, and this number will increase further due to the reconstruction of the earthquake zone. By introducing panel requirements for new buildings and public buildings, and by municipalities tendering suitable apartment building roof areas, we can both reach our energy targets and enable individuals to produce their own electricity cheaply."

Solar energy in Turkey and targets

The share of solar energy in electricity generation in Turkey reached 4.7% in 2022. The share of solar energy in electricity generation in the first half of this year was calculated at 5.7%. Turkey's installed solar energy capacity rose to 11.2 gigawatts as of the end of November. According to the National Energy Plan announced by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources at the end of 2022, Turkey plans to increase its installed solar energy capacity to 52.9 gigawatts by 2035. According to the 12th Development Plan published in October 2023, Turkey aims to reach 30 gigawatts of installed solar energy capacity by the end of 2028. To reach this capacity, Turkey needs to build 3.4 gigawatts of installed solar energy capacity annually during 2024-2028. Source