Business · Energy & Commodities · 11 hrs ago
Turkey targets 20 gigawatts of nuclear power by 2050
Turkey’s energy minister Alparslan Bayraktar says nuclear power is needed to tackle climate change alongside renewable energy.
He spoke at a panel during the UN climate conference COP31, as Turkey faces rising energy demand from economic growth, population growth and urbanisation.
Turkey aims for 20 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2050, combining at least 15 gigawatts from large reactors with a possible five gigawatts from small modular reactors.
Bayraktar said that capacity could supply 10 to 12 percent of Turkey’s electricity from clean sources and help reduce carbon emissions.
He argued that nuclear power can provide steady electricity when solar and wind output varies.
The Akkuyu nuclear plant is under construction, and Bayraktar said Turkey hopes to start generating electricity there in the coming weeks.
Turkey is also discussing its second and third nuclear plant projects with different technology providers.
Turkey aims to reach 20 gigawatts of installed nuclear power capacity by 2050, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said.
The target combines at least 15 gigawatts from conventional large-scale reactors and a proposed 5 gigawatts from small modular reactors.
Bayraktar said nuclear power would help meet electricity demand, support renewables with reliable baseload power and reduce carbon emissions.
He said nuclear power could supply 10% to 12% of Turkey’s electricity needs.
- Who
- Turkey, represented by Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar.
- What
- Turkey aims to reach 20 gigawatts of installed nuclear power capacity by 2050.
- When
- The target is for 2050.
- Where
- Turkey.
- Why
- To meet growing electricity demand, provide reliable low-carbon power and reduce carbon emissions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Bayraktar said Turkey had invited countries to commit to a 35% electrification target by 2035 and announced its National Energy 2040 vision.
Bayraktar outlined Turkey’s nuclear power capacity target at a panel organized by Rosatom.
Turkey aims to reach 20 gigawatts of installed nuclear power capacity.
- Overall target
- 20 gigawatts of installed nuclear capacity by 2050
- Large-scale reactors
- At least 15 gigawatts
- Small modular reactors
- At least 5 gigawatts under consideration
- Share of electricity
- 10% to 12% from nuclear power
- Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant
- Bayraktar said construction was progressing and the plant could begin producing electricity in the coming weeks
What people are saying
Without nuclear energy, we cannot talk about how serious we are in combating climate change.
We need nuclear energy.