Offshore Wind Energy in Turkey: From 75,000 MW of Potential to a 5,000 MW Target by 2035
Turkey has made significant progress in onshore wind energy over the years. However, it is still in the early stages of offshore wind energy.
Turkey has made significant progress in onshore wind energy over the years. However, it is still in the early stages of offshore wind energy. Nevertheless, there is a striking fact: Turkey’s identified offshore wind energy potential is estimated at 75,000 MW.
The assessments by Elvan Aygün Anbar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association of Energy Industrialists and Businesspeople (ENSİA), shed light on the opportunities in this sector and the strategic steps that need to be taken. The key point Anbar emphasizes can be summarized as follows: The 2035 offshore wind (DRES) installed capacity target is set at 5,000 MW, which corresponds to approximately one-fifteenth of the potential.
So what does this mean? What steps will turn these targets into concrete projects? Why are initiatives like an “industry inventory” considered critical? In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of the key messages from the report.
The Need to Accelerate Offshore Wind Energy from “Ground Zero”
One of the most important points highlighted in the report is that Turkey is at “ground zero” in offshore wind energy. In other words, despite the high potential, we are still in the early stages in terms of installed capacity. While this situation indicates a delay, it also highlights that this is a critical area for rapid scaling through proper planning.
ENSİA President Anbar notes that for this sector’s transformation to gain momentum, it is essential to document the companies capable of participating in production and their capabilities. This is precisely where an “inventory study” comes to the fore.
Why Is the “Turkey Offshore Wind Energy Industry Inventory” Important?
Offshore wind projects are not merely about installing turbines. They require an ecosystem. According to the report, the purpose of the industry inventory study on ENSİA’s agenda is to highlight Turkey’s core and supporting industrial capacity in the offshore wind energy sector and to contribute to the development of the supply chain.
This approach has two key outcomes:
· The goal of increasing the domestic contribution rate: The inventory aims to strengthen domestic contributions by identifying which domestic capabilities exist at which stages.
· Creating a reference for international investors: It aims to position itself as a “reliable reference source” for project developers and investors.
The article also provides examples of the categories to be included in the inventory. These categories cover a wide range, including Marine Research, Marine Civil Engineering, Floating Foundation Production, Wind Turbine Production, Tower Production, Turbine Component Production, Composite Production, Certification, and Universities and Research Institutions. This diversity demonstrates that offshore wind is a “multi-disciplinary” investment sector.
2035 Targets: Onshore Wind Grows While Offshore Share Remains Limited
Another key piece of data provided in the report is the current and targeted installed capacity growth in Turkey’s wind energy sector:
· Installed capacity in onshore wind energy: 16,000 MW has been reached.
· Total installed wind power capacity target for 2035: 45,000 MW
· Offshore wind’s share of this total in 2035: 5,000 MW
According to Anbar’s assessment, as of the end of May, Turkey’s total installed capacity reached 125,478 MW, with 13% of this coming from wind energy. While this demonstrates that wind holds a significant share in the energy mix, it also reveals that offshore wind has not yet been incorporated into this structure.
YEKA Candidate Sites: Saros, Gökçeada, Bozcaada, and Edremit
The announcement by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey’s first offshore wind Renewable Energy Resource Area (YEKA) candidate sites in the Saros, Gökçeada, Bozcaada, and Edremit regions is reported as a critical development in terms of the “transition process.”
Such candidate site announcements are significant for the following reasons:
· They guide project development processes.
· They attract investor interest to specific areas.
· They provide a framework for planning and permitting processes.
Consequently, they lay the groundwork for offshore wind to transition from being a “target” to becoming a “project portfolio.”
Emphasis on a Strong Industrial Infrastructure: Effectiveness at Every Link in the Value Chain
One of the main messages of the report is that Turkey could have an advantage in this field in terms of both primary and supporting industrial infrastructure. ENSİA President Anbar emphasizes that Turkey must be effective at every link in the value chain.
This emphasis indicates that offshore wind energy could serve as a catalyst for development and competitiveness in Turkey not only in terms of energy production but also in areas such as:
· production capacity,
· technology development,
· engineering,
· certification,
· university-industry collaboration.
Conclusion: Great Potential, Limited Targets; Roadmap Built Around the “Ecosystem”
In summary, while it is noted that Turkey has significant potential in offshore wind energy, the 2035 target appears to represent only a limited portion of that potential. The key message from the report is this: To achieve growth in targets and sustainable success, simply increasing the number of projects is not enough. An ecosystem approach is required—one that highlights industrial capacity, strengthens the domestic supply chain, and instills confidence in investors.
ENSİA’s “Turkey Offshore Wind Energy Industry Inventory” study serves as a critical lever in the formation of this ecosystem. The announcement of YEKA candidate sites, meanwhile, is paving the way for accelerating the process.
Source: Ekonomim — “ENSİA President Elvan Aygün Anbar: ‘Our 2035 DRES installed capacity target is just one-fifteenth of our potential’”
