One of the most defining agendas of the 21st century is the transformation taking place in global energy production and consumption systems. Increasing population, urbanization, digitalization, and the mounting pressure of climate change have rendered fossil fuel–based energy models unsustainable. According to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), more than 70% of the world’s energy demand is still met by fossil sources; however, renewable energy investments must triple by 2030 to meet carbon-neutral targets. At the center of this transformation lies not only energy supply security but also local production, technological innovation, and industrial policy. Energy today is not merely a resource — it is a pillar of economic competitiveness, national security, and sustainable development.
In this context, since 2017, Türkiye has undergone a strategic shift in its energy policy through the Renewable Energy Resource Areas (YEKA) model. The YEKA model has become one of the most comprehensive instruments realizing Türkiye’s “local and national energy” vision by integrating the country’s renewable potential with its industrial capacity. Türkiye meets nearly 70% of its energy demand from imports. This dependency has increased vulnerability to current account deficits, external price shocks, and supply risks. The National Energy and Mining Policy announced in 2017 was built on three main pillars: supply security, localization, and a predictable market structure — all designed to reduce external dependency and strengthen technological independence.
The YEKA model was legally established through the Electricity Market Law No. 6446 and related regulations enacted in 2016. Its core principle is to designate large-scale renewable energy investment zones, select private-sector investors through competitive tenders, and require local manufacturing and technology-transfer commitments. In YEKA tenders, investors must use a specific share of domestically produced equipment (e.g., solar panels, wind turbines), establish R&D centers in Türkiye or collaborate with local partners, provide long-term (15-year) purchase guarantees, and commit to regional production and employment targets. Thus, YEKA differs from conventional licensing systems by not only producing energy but also building a domestic technology ecosystem.
Türkiye’s first YEKA tender was held in 2017 with the Karapınar YEKA GES-1 project, marking a milestone in solar energy. The winning consortium (Kalyon–Hanwha) implemented one of the world’s largest integrated solar power investments, with a 1 GW installed capacity and 1.7 billion kWh annual output. Similarly, the YEKA RES-1 tender awarded 1 GW of wind capacity to the Siemens Gamesa–Türkerler–Kalyon partnership, leading to the establishment of Türkiye’s first local wind-turbine manufacturing facilities in İzmir. These projects generated major progress in technology transfer, industrial localization, and supply-chain development.
Thanks to YEKA, domestic solar-panel production capacity reached 10 GW by 2024, while more than 60 local firms became active in the production of wind-turbine towers, blades, and generators. YEKA investments have created over 25,000 direct and indirect jobs (Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, 2025). Moreover, the mandatory R&D centers required under YEKA tenders have strengthened university-industry collaboration. For instance, the YEKA GES R&D Center established in Ankara has developed locally produced solar cells with a record 23% efficiency, demonstrating that YEKA contributes not only to manufacturing but also to the knowledge economy.
The YEKA model has aligned energy investments with national industrial policy. The domestic share of energy production rose from 32% in 2016 to 55% by 2024 (Energy Market Regulatory Authority, 2024). This increase has stimulated not only renewable generation but also machinery, electronics, software, and engineering sectors. Domestic equipment production has reduced import bills while creating a new export segment. As of 2023, Türkiye began exporting solar panels and turbine components to the Middle East and Africa.
YEKA projects have also generated new employment opportunities, particularly for young engineers and technicians. Between 2017 and 2025, YEKA projects created about 15,000 direct and 40,000 indirect jobs, proving that the model functions as both an energy policy and a regional development tool.
Similar large-scale renewable-energy programs exist globally. The European Union, through its REPowerEU strategy launched after 2021, has accelerated renewable investments and developed regional “Renewable Energy Zones” for offshore wind and hydrogen production. India, through its Solar Parks Scheme, has developed more than 50 GW of solar capacity via public-private partnerships while boosting domestic panel manufacturing. Brazil, under its PROINFA program, has expanded wind and biomass projects with local-industry support, aiming to meet 60% of its electricity demand from renewables by 2030. Compared with these models, Türkiye’s YEKA is distinctive for its mandatory local-equipment and R&D requirements. While European programs focus mainly on carbon neutrality, Türkiye’s model prioritizes industrial development and technology transfer — making YEKA not only an energy policy but also an instrument of industrial transformation.
To date, the YEKA model has planned more than 10 GW of capacity and commissioned over 6 GW. Nevertheless, its sustainability requires several policy refinements: simplifying long tender procedures and opening access for small- and medium-sized investors; integrating energy-storage systems and hybrid facilities into YEKA tenders; expanding the scope to include green hydrogen and ammonia technologies; ensuring greater participation of local governments and chambers of industry and commerce; and diversifying financial instruments such as green bonds, public guarantees, and international climate finance.
The future of the energy transition will be measured not only by installed capacity but by technological self-reliance. In this regard, YEKA strengthens both Türkiye’s energy security and its innovation ecosystem.
“Domestic Power in Energy: YEKA” symbolizes a paradigm shift in Türkiye’s energy policy. The model has innovatively integrated renewable resources into the economic value chain, expanded domestic manufacturing capacity, and institutionalized technology transfer. Through YEKA, Türkiye is evolving from a country that diversifies its energy supply to one that produces energy technologies. This process offers a strategic opportunity at the intersection of climate action, regional development, and industrial policy. Integrating digitalization, storage, green hydrogen, and regional energy-market mechanisms into future YEKA projects will further strengthen Türkiye’s role in the global energy transition.
Sources
Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (ETKB). National Energy and Mining Policy Report, 2017–2025.
Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK). Electricity Market Development Report 2024.
International Energy Agency (IEA). World Energy Outlook 2023.
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Renewable Capacity Statistics 2024.
European Commission. REPowerEU Plan. Brussels, 2022.
World Bank. Turkey Energy Sector Policy Note, 2023.
Turkish Wind Energy Association (TÜREB). Sector Statistics 2024.
Kalyon Energy. Karapınar YEKA Project Summary, 2024.
Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV). Capacity Analysis in Domestic Energy Technologies, 2023.
She graduated from Çankaya University Faculty of Law in 2005. In the same year, she completed her master’s degree in Constitutional Law at Çankaya University, Department of Public Law. Until 2011, she worked as an ODY-ÜDY Instructor at Vocational Training Centers affiliated with the Ministry of Transport. For approximately 15 years, she has been working as a legal expert at the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB). Initially, she was involved in Foreign Trade and International Logistics at TOBB and represented the United Nations for nearly seven years. She is currently serving as a legal expert in the SME Policies Directorate within the TOBB Department of Real Sector R&D and Implementation.
Meanwhile, she is working on completing her doctoral dissertation in Administrative Law at Gazi University, Department of Public Law-Administrative Law. After completing her thesis on TOBB, which is recognized by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) in Turkey, she plans to publish it as a book.
Additionally, since 2023, she has been writing columns in the London section of “DÜNDAR HUKUK” and “DÜNDAR LEGAL SERVICE CONSULTANCY,” which have established themselves internationally, particularly in the field of energy and renewable energy.