Coal in Turkey generated a third of the nation's electricity in 2023.[1] There are 55 active coal-fired power stations with a total capacity of 21 gigawatts (GW).[note 1] In 2023 coal imports for electricity generation cost 3.7 billion USD.[1]: 4
Air pollution from coal-fired power stations is damaging public health,[3]: 48 and it is estimated that a coal phase-out by 2030 instead of by the 2050s would save over 100,000 lives.[4] Flue gas emission limits were improved in 2020, but data from mandatory reporting of emission levels is not made public. Turkey has not ratified the Gothenburg Protocol, which limits fine dust polluting other countries.
Turkey's coal is almost all low calorie lignite, but government policy supports its continued use. In contrast, Germany is closing lignite-fired stations under 150 MW.[5] Drought in Turkey is frequent, but thermal power stations use significant amounts of water.[6]
Coal-fired power stations are the largest source of greenhouse gas, at about a tonne each year per person, which is about the world average.[7] Coal-fired stations emit over 1 kg of carbon dioxide for every kilowatt hour generated,[8] over twice that of gas power. Academics suggest that in order to reach Turkey's target of carbon neutrality by 2053, coal power should be phased out by the mid-2030s.[9] In January 2023 the National Energy Plan was published: it forecast a capacity increase to 24.3 GW by 2035,[10]: 23 including 1.7 GW more by 2030.[10]: 15 However by 2024 it was obvious that no new coal power stations would be built.[11]: 11 The national plan forecasts coal generation decreasing but capacity payments continuing for flexible and baseload power.[10]: 25 In 2024 Turkey is expected to burn more coal than any other European country.[12]
- ^ a b Türkiye Electricity Review 2024 (PDF) (Report). Ember.
- ^ Electricity Market Sector Report 2022 (Report). Energy Market Regulatory Authority.
- ^ Karababa, Ali Osman; et al. (August 2020). "Dark Report Reveals the Health Impacts of Air Pollution in Turkey". Right to Clean Air Platform. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
Coal-fired thermal power plants threaten the health of humans
- ^ Curing Chronic Coal: The health benefits of a 2030 coal phase out in Turkey (Report). Health and Environment Alliance. 2022.
- ^ Shrestha, Priyanka (27 November 2020). "EU approves German scheme to compensate hard coal plants for early closure". Energy Live News. Archived from the original on 7 April 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ El-Khozondar, Balkess; Koksal, Merih Aydınalp (2017). "Investigating the water consumption for electricity generation at Turkish power plants" (PDF). Department of Environmental Engineering, Hacettepe University. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 January 2022.
- ^ "G20 Per Capita Coal Power Emissions 2023". Ember. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ Vardar, Suat; Demirel, Burak; Onay, Turgut T. (22 March 2022). "Impacts of coal-fired power plants for energy generation on environment and future implications of energy policy for Turkey". Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 29 (27): 40302–40318. doi:10.1007/s11356-022-19786-8. ISSN 1614-7499. PMC 8940263. PMID 35318602.
- ^ Şahin, Umit; et al. (2021). "Turkey's Decarbonization Pathway Net Zero in 2050 Executive Summary" (PDF). Sabancı University. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 December 2021.
- ^ a b c Türkiye national energy plan (PDF) (Report). Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. 2022.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:9was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Turkey on track to become Europe's top coal burner in 2024".
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