The photo is sourced from maritimegateway.com
The key reason was a relatively low quality of Turkish coal. While in Russia the average caloric value of coal is 3.56 MJ per kg, in Turkey it is only 1.93 MJ per kg. As a consequence, Turkish coal-fired TPPs require on average 1.72 tons of lignite to generate 1 MWh of electricity, while Russian TPPs require only 0.69 tons. The feedstock quality also indirectly affects the utilization level of Turkish coal-fired TPPs. For example, in 2023, the highest utilization (over 80%) – i.e. the ratio of actual to maximum possible electricity generation – was characteristic of coal-fired TPPs with a lifetime of less than 10 years which used imported coal. Conversely, the lowest ratio of actual to marginal generation (less than 50%) was characteristic of coal-fired TPPs with a lifetime of more than 10 years, which operated with Turkish raw materials.
Coal remains the largest electricity source in Turkey. According to Ember, solid fuel accounted for 37% of electricity generation in 2023, while natural gas and fuel oil accounted for a total of 21% and low-carbon sources – 42%. However, the share of coal-fired generation in Turkey will gradually decline in the coming years. On the one hand, the phased commissioning of four units of Akkuyu NPP which will have to supply a total of 10% of the country’s electricity needs will make an impact. On the other hand, development of the large Sakarya field in the Black Sea may eventually make natural gas more readily available for Turkish power plants.
The development of renewable energy will also play an important role. As Ember estimates, the total area of the flat and pitched roofs in Turkey is sufficient for accommodation of 120 GW of solar panel capacity, which exceeds the installed capacity of all the country’s power plants (105.1 GW).
