Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 2 hrs ago
Turkey spotlights solar expansion as it prepares to host COP31
Turkey is showcasing its solar expansion ahead of COP31, the U.N. climate summit it will host in Antalya from Nov.
9 to 20.
The Kalyon Karapınar solar plant in Konya has more than 3 million panels and has operated since 2023.
Its director says it supplies about 0.7% of Turkey’s electricity demand each year and prevents about 1.75 million metric tons of carbon emissions.
But coal remains Turkey’s largest source of electricity, accounting for 33% last year, while solar and wind together supplied nearly 23%.
Climate campaigners say the country has no roadmap to phase out coal or other fossil fuels, which they argue conflicts with its goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2053.
Turkey is also building its first nuclear power plant on the Mediterranean coast and is considering more reactors.
COP31 will bring delegates and leaders together to discuss how to put climate goals into practice amid concerns about energy security and rising oil and gas prices.
Turkey is highlighting its expanding solar power capacity as it prepares to host the COP31 climate summit in Antalya.
The Kalyon Karapınar solar plant in Konya has more than 3 million panels and has operated since 2023.
Turkey’s Energy Ministry says coal supplied 33% of electricity last year, while solar and wind together supplied nearly 23%.
Climate campaigners say Turkey lacks plans to phase out coal and other fossil fuels.
COP31 is scheduled for Nov. 9-20 and is expected to bring tens of thousands of delegates to Antalya.
- Who
- Turkey, which is preparing to host COP31, and climate campaigners raising concerns about its energy plans.
- What
- Turkey is showcasing solar expansion while facing criticism over its continued reliance on coal and the absence of plans to phase out fossil fuels.
- When
- The summit is scheduled for Nov. 9-20, 2026.
- Where
- The solar plant is in Karapınar, Konya province; COP31 will be held in Antalya, Turkey.
- Why
- Turkey is spotlighting renewable energy as host of the U.N. climate summit and says it is directing its energy sector toward cleaner sources.
Turkey’s Energy Ministry and solar plant director
Climate campaigners
Energy mix
Turkey’s Energy Ministry and solar plant director
The ministry says solar and wind supplied nearly 23% of electricity last year.
Climate campaigners
Campaigners say renewable energy plans lack a roadmap to phase out coal or other fossil fuels.
Climate plans
Turkey’s Energy Ministry and solar plant director
Plant director Burak Dogru says the solar plant demonstrates Turkey’s shift toward cleaner energy.
Climate campaigners
Duygu Kutluay says the plans are not compatible with Turkey’s pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2053.
The Kalyon Karapınar solar plant began operating.
Turkey’s greenhouse gas emissions reached 584.5 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent, the latest year with available data.
AP photographed workers at the solar plant in Karapınar.
COP31 is scheduled to take place in Antalya.
- Solar panels
- More than 3 million at the Kalyon Karapınar plant
- Plant output
- Enough electricity each year to meet about 0.7% of Turkey’s power demand
- Coal share
- 33% of electricity generation last year
- Solar and wind share
- Nearly 23% of electricity generation last year
- Emissions
- 584.5 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent in 2024
- Net-zero target
- 2053
What people are saying
We prevent approximately 1.75 million metric tons of carbon emissions every year
But these plans contain neither a roadmap for a coal phase-out, nor any planning for a phase-out of other fossil fuels, including gas
not compatible