Türkiye has secured €640m (US$748m) in concessional financing from the World Bank to modernize and expand its power transmission infrastructure, enabling greater integration of large-scale solar and wind energy.
The bulk of the financing will focus on strengthening the transmission network to support the scale-up of renewable energy. The upgrades are expected to unlock 1.7 GW of new capacity by addressing grid constraints and modernizing 400 kV and 154 kV systems operated by Türkiye’s TSO, TEİAŞ. According to the World Bank, TEİAŞ has identified over 40 potential sub-projects, including the construction and upgrading of substations and the integration of large-scale solar and wind generation in areas such as Devekıran, Bayramiç, and Istanbul. Final project selection will be made during implementation based on urgency and readiness.
Türkiye targets a 65% share of renewables in its total electricity capacity by 2035. As part of the National Energy Plan 2022-2035, renewables are expected to account for 75% of the new power capacity that will be commissioned and will make up 65% of total capacity in 2035 (58.5% in 2023). As of the end of 2024, the country had an installed capacity of 13.2 GW of solar and 12.1 GW of wind.