EMP-G Impact #8: Sultan Turut Balioglu

Sultan is a senior energy expert and energy lawyer in the Turkish Energy Market Regulatory Authority where she has worked for almost 15 years.  She attended the EMP-G at ICTP in Trieste in September 2024 to study the Electricity Transition Playbook pathway, which is where we spoke to her. 

She has dual degrees in Economics and Law. She studied for a master’s degree in Energy Law from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, recently.  During her time in the United Kingdom, she first encountered the challenges of energy transition and realized the significant changes Turkey would need to implement to achieve a sustainable transition.

What is your reason for attending this EMP-G?

I’ve been involved in the Global Women’s Network in Energy Transition for three years, advocating for women’s empowerment in this field. Through this network, I learned about the EMP-G. Additionally, for the past two years, I’ve been working on the project in Türkiye focused on renewable energy projects co-located with storage facilities. This experience highlighted the urgent need to utilize energy modelling systems to better understand renewable energy applications and prioritize projects effectively. I was lucky to be sponsored by CCG to attend this workshop.

How have you found the experience?

It has far exceeded my expectations.  The trainers were exceptional, but also the collaboration with other participants was amazing. We shared challenges and bottlenecks from our respective countries, and the participatory workshop-style discussions provided invaluable insights into the broader global energy context. This experience has significantly broadened my horizons and deepened my understanding of energy transition dynamics, especially from the country-specific perspective.

Tell us about Turkey’s energy situation

For its primary energy demand, Turkey relies on imported gas and oil. However, in the electricity sector, significant progress has been made since the establishment of the Energy Market Regulatory Authority. We quickly adapted our legislative framework to align with European Union standards and have been licensing renewable energy projects to rapidly integrate renewables into Turkey’s energy mix. Currently, around 54% of our installed electricity capacity comes from renewable sources.

That’s a huge number.

Yes, and this past summer, we hit record levels of electricity generation from solar and wind, with nearly 60% of our electricity coming from these sources. This is a positive development for Turkey’s energy market. Additionally, the Energy Market Regulatory Authority introduced a model for renewables co-located with storage facilities, which has gathered significant investor interest. To date, we’ve pre-licensed approximately 34 GWs for these renewable energy projects with storage, all of which need to be operational within two to three years. To achieve this ambitious timeline, I see the need to model these projects, optimize the grid, and prioritize implementation of projects regarding grid congestions nearby.

When you talk about storage what kind of solutions are you looking at? Is it battery or is it using liquid hydrogen?

In fact, right now, our legislation doesn’t prioritise any kind of technology, it’s technology agnostic in terms of storage technologies. However, most of the pre-licensed applications involve lithium-ion storage.  There are emerging technologies, such as sodium-ion and hydrogen storage, but it’s still too early to assess their viability. Domestically, Turkey is paving the way for lithium-ion storage manufacturing.

Do you have lithium in the country?

Yes, Turkey has some of the raw materials necessary for lithium-ion production. Besides, the Ministry of Energy puts special importance on critical minerals, and in Turkey’s energy partnerships with other countries, critical minerals are also brought to the agenda alongside energy. In the short term, public-private partnerships will play a crucial role in establishing manufacturing facilities for storage.

Nationally does Turkey have an energy transition plan or a strategy yet?

Yes, we have energy plans and strategies in place. Although Turkey has been criticized for being one of the latest countries to ratify the Paris Agreement, it began leveraging renewable resources long before the agreement’s ratification. Large hydropower plants have been a part of our energy mix since the 1970s, thanks to the initiatives of the National Incumbent Turkish Electricity Administration. From the electricity sector, this reliance on hydropower laid the foundation for an easier transition to clean energy solutions. Furthermore, national energy plans and strategies have started to be outlined to ensure a structured approach to Turkey’s 2053 net zero target.

So, I guess you will be making carbon savings when you transition to clean energy.

Absolutely. Currently, the Energy Market Regulatory Authority is undertaking supportive efforts to integrate 34 GW of renewable energy into the system. This will play a critical role in reducing carbon emissions

What do you intend to do with your new knowledge when you go back to Türkiye?

The workshop has given me a comprehensive understanding of the energy transition, from creating a vision to addressing law, policy, workforce, supply chain, and finance. My plan after returning home will be to get a team focused on energy modelling. Increasing human capacity in this field is crucial for our progress.

I’m also proud to be the first person from Turkey to take part in this workshop. My goal is to bring a team to future sessions, allowing us to present Turkey’s case with diverse perspectives. This will enable us to make informed, impactful contributions.

Excellent. That sounds really exciting. You seem very passionate.

Thank you. Yes, I am. At the same time, my schedule is quite busy with ongoing projects, but it’s exciting to be part of such impactful initiatives.

Anything else you would like to add?

Yes, I want to acknowledge Marcus, Jairo, and Mariana, our trainers, for their exceptional efforts. I also appreciate the collaborative environment, where fellows shared their experiences and solutions. This model fosters skill development and capacity building, which is vital for energy modelling.

And like you say, if you can get more people from your own country to learn those same skills, then you can spread out the influence across the whole country and get to where you want to get.

Additionally, my involvement extends beyond Turkey. As part of associations connected to energy regulators in Eastern Europe, I have observed their challenges and believe platforms like this workshop can help address them effectively. So, I could see that this platform could be a good way to find solutions to their challenges and their problems.

You probably know this, but CCG is funded to focus specifically on the global south. But with other funding our knowledge products – like this training – could be applied anywhere.

Yes, indeed. This training is a valuable tool for capacity building, particularly in energy modelling, which is crucial for addressing energy challenges.

Thank you for talking to us.