Starting in the 2000s, Türkiye’s gross domestic product (GDP) steadily increased until 2022, except in 2001 and 2009. Overall, for more than two decades, the country’s GDP rose by 188.6%, with an average annual growth of 4.9%, according to the Energy Efficiency 2030 Strategy and the 2nd National Energy Efficiency Action Plan. In parallel, the same strategy explains that energy use rises alongside economic growth, causing primary energy consumption to grow by 98.6% over the same period, albeit at a slower pace than the economy. With this, expanding Türkiye’s renewable energy goals, which are in line with the Paris Agreement and its 2053 net-zero target, demonstrates the country’s efforts to increase the use of clean energy sources, lessen its dependency on imports, and improve supply security.
On Aug. 4, 2025, the World Bank approved a financing package for the Türkiye-Transforming Power Transmission System Project (TPTS). Specifically, the package includes a EUR 32.798 million (US$ 38 million equivalent) loan from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), a US$ 2 million CTF grant, and a EUR 625 million (US$ 707.9 million equivalent) loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). Through this combined financing, the project will facilitate the integration of more renewable energy generation into Türkiye’s national power transmission grid. As a result, it is expected to help the country advance its climate resilience objectives and accelerate the clean energy transition.
![Humberto Lopez, World Bank country director for Türkiye, said that "Türkiye has set one of the world’s most ambitious renewable energy targets, and at the World Bank[,] we are proud of supporting it. By modernizing the transmission network and scaling up renewables, the country is enhancing its energy security, reducing fossil fuel import dependency, improving its competitiveness, and developing new industries with the potential to create a large number of skilled jobs."](https://apactenders.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/image-4-1024x538.png)
Three strategic elements form the core of the project. To boost grid dependability and immediately enable 1.7 GW of renewable energy, it will first modernize existing facilities, finance new high-voltage substations, and extend transmission lines and underground cables. Second, it focuses on updating the power grid with new digital technology and improving Türkiye’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)/Energy Management System (EMS) to better manage the growing amount of renewable energy that can change frequently. Finally, moreover, by bolstering the institutional capacity of the implementing agency, the Türkiye Electricity Transmission Corporation (TEİAŞ), and additionally supporting the country’s first High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) corridors, the project not only strengthens technical capabilities but also ultimately offers meaningful technical help for innovation.
Humberto Lopez, World Bank country director for Türkiye, said that “Türkiye has set one of the world’s most ambitious renewable energy targets, and at the World Bank[,] we are proud of supporting it. By modernizing the transmission network and scaling up renewables, the country is enhancing its energy security, reducing fossil fuel import dependency, improving its competitiveness, and developing new industries with the potential to create a large number of skilled jobs.”
The National Energy Plan 2023–2035, which lays out a plan to generate 65% of power from renewable sources by 2035, serves as the foundation for Türkiye’s clean energy aspirations. This entails increasing solar power to 52.9 GW and wind power to 29.6 GW. This World Bank-supportedd project precisely corresponds with these milestones by funding transmission enhancements, which allow the grid to absorb more renewable energy.
The initiative is under the Renewable Energy Scale-Up in Europe and Central Asia (ECARES) Program, a regional World Bank program that emphasizes the contribution of renewable energy to climate change mitigation and energy security. To support massive solar and wind output, this project will assist Turkey in updating and enlarging its power transmission system. In line with the government’s goal of having zero net emissions by 2053, it directly supports Turkey’s Energy Transition—Renewable Energy 2035 (RE 2035) strategy, which calls for 120 GW of installed wind and solar capacity by 2035.
According to a World Bank analysis, Türkiye’s energy demand has grown significantly faster than the OECD average. Consequently, this rapid increase has placed additional strain on the transmission grid and underscored the urgency of reducing fossil fuel import dependency. Therefore, strengthening transmission infrastructure has become a strategic priority.
In summary, with the support of World Bank-CTF funding, Türkiye is fortifying TEİAŞ to oversee a grid that is heavily reliant on renewable energy. Ultimately, by reducing reliance on fossil fuels, enhancing resilience, and accelerating Türkiye’s renewable energy goals, these investments position the electricity system for a more secure and sustainable future.