Türkiye and China sign preliminary US$15 billion renewable energy pact
The plans cover seven gigawatts of solar and wind capacity, plus storage and grid upgrades, but no project timetable or financing details were announced.
Türkiye signed a preliminary pact with China on 12 November intended to draw around US$15 billion into solar and wind projects, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said. The signing took place in Antalya during the COP31 UN climate summit.
The planned wind and solar farms would together provide seven gigawatts of generating capacity. The agreement also covers electricity storage and grid improvements. Bayraktar said technology sharing would support wind-turbine equipment manufacturing in Türkiye. No schedule or financing arrangements were announced.
The pact came after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on 11 November. Han said Beijing was prepared to encourage additional Chinese companies to invest in Türkiye, highlighting renewable energy as a field for cooperation.
Türkiye’s energy ministry put its installed solar and wind capacity at around 43.8 gigawatts at September’s end, representing slightly more than one-third of overall electricity generating capacity.
The government’s national energy strategy targets 175 gigawatts of solar and wind capacity by 2040 and seeks greater use of electricity in place of oil and gas. Speaking on 10 November, Bayraktar put the investment needed for the energy transition at around US$300 billion by 2040, saying international partnerships and predictable investment conditions would be necessary.
