6 BYZANTINE ENERGY POLITICS: THE COMPLEX TALE …
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associated with it, there is doubt that nuclear energy will in fact lessen
Turkey’s energy import dependence as nuclear materials would have to be
imported, at least initially, and the financing and operation of these power
plants would come under the control and management of foreign governments according to the existing contracts. 10 It is argued that Akkuyu
would be the first ever nuclear plant in the world on a state’s sovereign
land, owned and operated by another state. 11
Given all the problems with fossil fuels and nuclear energy, renewables
present an obvious energy alternative for Turkey. Endowed with a favorable climate and geography, Turkey has abundant renewable resources and
yet, renewable energy constitutes merely 13% of Turkey’s total primary
energy supply in 2018. Renewables’ share in electricity generation is much
higher with 31%, but most of that comes from large hydroelectric dams
(20% of all electricity generation). 12 Even though hydropower is a renewable energy, it is regarded by many as less sustainable, and therefore
less desirable, given the numerous environmental and social costs associated with it. 13 In the past decade, there was also a rush to develop
small hydro resources in Turkey (run-of-the-river facilities with capacities
smaller than 10 MW) yet these make up 6% of the country’s installed
capacity. 14 In 2018, the total share of non-hydro renewables in electricity generation was 12% (with wind at 6.6%, solar at 2.5%, geothermal
2.3%, biofuels and waste 0.8%). 15 Despite the rapid growth of renewables
since 2005 (by 93%), fossil fuel supply grew as well, increasing by 71%
during the same period. 16 Today, the share of modern (non-hydro, nontraditional biomass) renewables in the overall energy mix—a key measure
for sustainable development—remains limited and Turkey is still not close
to realizing its vast clean energy potential.
Two-Steps Forward, One-Step
Back in Renewable Energy Policy
Turkey is a latecomer to the global scene in terms of formulation of
a national renewable energy policy. The distinct policy framework for
renewable energy started to emerge with the restructuring and liberalization of the electricity market in the 1990s and reached a major turning
point in 2001 with the Electricity Market Law (EML) #4628. This law
made room for the development of renewables by allowing more competition into the electricity sector. Besides the broad electricity market reform
and some specific sector-related laws, there was, however, no legislation
157
associated with it, there is doubt that nuclear energy will in fact lessen
Turkey’s energy import dependence as nuclear materials would have to be
imported, at least initially, and the financing and operation of these power
plants would come under the control and management of foreign governments according to the existing contracts. 10 It is argued that Akkuyu
would be the first ever nuclear plant in the world on a state’s sovereign
land, owned and operated by another state. 11
Given all the problems with fossil fuels and nuclear energy, renewables
present an obvious energy alternative for Turkey. Endowed with a favorable climate and geography, Turkey has abundant renewable resources and
yet, renewable energy constitutes merely 13% of Turkey’s total primary
energy supply in 2018. Renewables’ share in electricity generation is much
higher with 31%, but most of that comes from large hydroelectric dams
(20% of all electricity generation). 12 Even though hydropower is a renewable energy, it is regarded by many as less sustainable, and therefore
less desirable, given the numerous environmental and social costs associated with it. 13 In the past decade, there was also a rush to develop
small hydro resources in Turkey (run-of-the-river facilities with capacities
smaller than 10 MW) yet these make up 6% of the country’s installed
capacity. 14 In 2018, the total share of non-hydro renewables in electricity generation was 12% (with wind at 6.6%, solar at 2.5%, geothermal
2.3%, biofuels and waste 0.8%). 15 Despite the rapid growth of renewables
since 2005 (by 93%), fossil fuel supply grew as well, increasing by 71%
during the same period. 16 Today, the share of modern (non-hydro, nontraditional biomass) renewables in the overall energy mix—a key measure
for sustainable development—remains limited and Turkey is still not close
to realizing its vast clean energy potential.
Two-Steps Forward, One-Step
Back in Renewable Energy Policy
Turkey is a latecomer to the global scene in terms of formulation of
a national renewable energy policy. The distinct policy framework for
renewable energy started to emerge with the restructuring and liberalization of the electricity market in the 1990s and reached a major turning
point in 2001 with the Electricity Market Law (EML) #4628. This law
made room for the development of renewables by allowing more competition into the electricity sector. Besides the broad electricity market reform
and some specific sector-related laws, there was, however, no legislation