Record-Breaking Wind Energy Output
On Sunday, January 4, 2026, Turkey achieved a significant milestone in its renewable energy efforts, as wind electricity generation reached an all-time record high. Data released by Türkiye's Electricity Transmission Corporation (TEİAŞ), and reported by Anadolu Agency and Daily Sabah, confirmed that wind power contributed an impressive 28.2% to the country's total electricity production for the day.
The total electricity generated from wind farms on this record-setting day amounted to 253,128 megawatt-hours (MWh). This figure surpassed the previous record of 228,604 MWh, which was set on June 29, 2024.
Daily Electricity Overview
On January 4, 2026, the overall daily electricity production in Turkey reached 899,027 MWh, while total consumption stood at 887,046 MWh. Wind power was the leading source of electricity, followed by imported coal, which accounted for 23% of production, and natural gas plants, contributing 14.6%.
Hourly power consumption peaked at 42,775 MWh at 7 p.m. local time, with the lowest consumption recorded at 31,168 MWh at 5 a.m. local time. The country's electricity exports for the day totaled 12,871 MWh, against imports of 909 MWh.
Turkey's Ambitious Renewable Energy Goals
This new record underscores Turkey's ongoing commitment to expanding its renewable energy capacity. The nation has set ambitious targets to increase its renewable energy capacity to 120 GW by 2035. To achieve this, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has indicated that annual additions to renewable capacity need to increase to between 10 and 12 GW.
The year 2026 is projected to be a record year for renewable energy investments, with an anticipated addition of over 8 GW of new renewable capacity, including approximately 6 GW of solar and nearly 2 GW of wind power. Turkey's long-term vision includes achieving net zero emissions by 2053, a goal supported by strategic investments and policy frameworks aimed at reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Strategic Investments and Future Outlook
In October 2024, Turkey announced its 'Roadmap for Renewable Energy to 2035,' which outlines plans to deploy new wind and solar capacity at a rate of 'at least' 7.5–8 GW per year until 2035. This initiative is backed by substantial investments of USD 28 billion dedicated to upgrading the national grid infrastructure. These efforts build upon significant progress, as renewable energy already constituted over 60% of Turkey's total installed capacity by 2025.
8 Comments
Mariposa
Finally, some positive news on the climate front! Go Turkey!
Muchacha
The ambitious goals for 2035 are certainly inspiring, but the sheer scale of annual capacity additions required, especially for solar and wind, raises practical questions about land use, supply chains, and the speed of project execution.
Bella Ciao
Achieving 28.2% from wind is commendable and a step in the right direction, yet the variability of wind power means that ensuring a consistent base load will require substantial investment in storage solutions or other flexible energy sources.
Comandante
This record shows what's possible. Great job embracing wind power.
Muchacho
Still too much imported coal and natural gas. This 'record' is a drop in the bucket.
BuggaBoom
Wind is unreliable. What happens when the wind doesn't blow? They'll still need fossil fuel backups.
Eugene Alta
A huge win for clean energy and reducing carbon emissions. Excellent!
lettlelenok
These ambitious targets always sound good on paper. Let's see if they actually deliver.