Additional generating capacity will be needed and there is a goal of achieving an extra 18 gigawatts of coal-based installed capacity within the next decade.
Thermal and hydroelectric generation currently provides most of Turkey's electricity. In 2012, gas-fired plants generated 43.6%, followed by hydro with 24.2%. Domestic lignite and hard coal provided 16.2%, with imported hard coal providing a further 12.2%. However, there are plans to add nuclear power to the mix.
By 2023, a government goal is for 30% of the country’s electricity to be produced from lignite/hard coal, 30% from gas, 30% from hydro and other renewables, and 10% from nuclear. There is an ambitious target for the country to have between 112 and 125GW of installed generating capacity by 2023.
The commercial-scale deployment of clean coal technologies in Turkey encompasses mainly fluidised bed boilers, supercritical pulverised coal boilers, various environmental control technologies, and a number of coal cleaning systems.
“However, as the national focus shifts towards the greater use of indigenous lignite and hard coal, interest in the wider use of clean coal technologies is increasing,” the IEA Clean Coal Centre states.
“This has now reached ministerial level and their increased deployment is being encouraged by various means.”
