Türkiye's 2035 electricity target seen requiring over 8% annual demand growth

Fakir Hüseyin Erdoğan, Secretary General of the Electricity Distribution Services Association (ELDER), told Anadolu Agency that Türkiye's goal of raising electricity's share of final energy consumption to 35 percent by 2035 requires average annual electricity demand growth above 8 percent and a comprehensive transformation of distribution infrastructure. He said electricity currently accounts for about 20 percent of final energy consumption.

Erdoğan said Türkiye has more than 1.6 million kilometres of distribution lines and serves about 52 million subscribers, a number projected to exceed 64 million by 2035. Digital SCADA coverage has risen from 10 percent in 2013 to 50 percent, and the transition to new meters under the National Smart Meter System began on 1 March.

ELDER, an official observer at COP31, which Türkiye will host, has had its application accepted to hold a joint panel with UNEZA. The panel is planned to include Eurelectric, the World Bank and a representative of a distribution company.