China to invest €13.6 billion in Turkey energy megaproject
Memorandum signed at COP31 on 13 November foresees 7,000 MW of solar and wind plus 4,000 MW of storage/transmission capacity.
China has signed a memorandum to invest roughly €13.6 billion (about $15 billion) in Turkey for a large-scale renewable energy programme, Turkish officials announced on 13 November at the COP31 summit in Antalya.
Project scope and capacities
According to the Turkish Ministry of Energy, the plan covers construction of solar and wind power plants with combined capacity of 7,000 megawatts, together with energy storage systems and new transmission infrastructure totalling 4,000 megawatts of capacity. The agreement is styled as a cooperation framework rather than a final project contract.
Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar confirmed the headline figures presented at the summit but said that specific sites, construction timetables, financing terms and the companies that will carry out the works still must be determined.
The memorandum also includes provisions for technology transfer and local production of wind-turbine equipment in Turkey, which Ankara hopes will stimulate additional investment into domestic manufacturing.
The China deal follows a recent energy arrangement with Saudi Arabia for renewables development announced by Ankara, which envisages some 5,000 megawatts of capacity. Turkish authorities say these steps form part of a broader effort to cut dependence on imported fuels and raise domestic electricity output.
If implemented, the announced investments could strengthen Turkey’s bid to become a regional energy hub. Ankara has set an ambitious national target of reaching 175,000 megawatts of installed solar and wind capacity by 2040.
Photo: Alparslan Bayraktar/Facebook
