Turkey is fast emerging as the MENAT region’s largest producer of renewable energy. Out of the 14.6 GW of new renewable power generation capacity installed in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey between 2010 and 2014, three quarters of it was in Turkey.
The Turkish government has set a target of drawing 30% of its energy from renewable sources by 2023. This target will be achieved by increasing the current hydropower capacity from the current 23GW to 32GW and wind capacity from 3GW to 10GW. Since 2010 Turkey has added 3GW of wind capacity out of a total 3.9GW for the entire MENAT region. Elsewhere in the MENAT region, renewable energy generation remains at a low level in countries with their own oil and gas reserves. Those that do not are looking to become more independent regarding energy generation. Morocco has set a target to install 6GW of solar, wind and hydro capacity by 2020. The majority of this will come from solar and wind but the country will also be renovating existing hydropower plants. Egypt, meanwhile, has set a target of drawing 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
