As the world accelerates its shift toward a sustainable energy future, the need for international collaboration has become more critical than ever. Turkiye, with its vast renewable energy potential, stands at a pivotal moment, aiming to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and secure energy independence. Scandinavian countries – Denmark, Sweden and Norway – have emerged as pioneers in renewable energy technologies, offering unique expertise that could greatly benefit Turkiye’s energy transition.

By fostering cooperation with these Nordic nations, Turkiye can accelerate its renewable energy deployment, optimize energy efficiency, and leverage cutting-edge technologies. Turkiye has already made significant strides, with renewables generating 52% of its electricity in 2022. The country has abundant natural resources, including excellent solar potential in Central Anatolia, strong wind energy opportunities along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, and substantial hydropower resources in the Black Sea region.

However, despite these advantages, Turkiye faces several challenges in scaling up its renewable energy sector, including the need for advanced technology, investment, and grid modernization. This is where collaboration with Scandinavia offers a promising pathway to overcome these hurdles.

Strategies for Enhancing Renewable Energy Adoption

Scandinavian countries have developed efficient technologies, robust policy frameworks, and successful public-private partnerships that could assist Turkiye in scaling its renewable capacity. Denmark, for instance, generates nearly 50% of its electricity from wind energy and is a world leader in offshore wind technology. In 2021, the country inaugurated the largest offshore wind farm, Horns Rev 3, capable of producing 406 MW, enough to power 425,000 households.

Norway, on the other hand, is the largest producer of hydropower in Europe, with over 98% of its electricity coming from renewable sources. Norway’s experience in managing large-scale hydropower systems could greatly enhance Turkiye’s hydropower projects in the Black Sea region. Sweden, meanwhile, is at the forefront of solar energy innovation and energy storage technologies, making strides toward its goal of becoming 100% powered by renewables by 2040. Sweden’s smart grid technologies and battery storage innovations are highly relevant to Turkiye’s grid modernization efforts.

The technological leadership of these countries, combined with Turkiye’s vast renewable potential, makes their cooperation a win-win scenario. Several existing agreements between Turkiye and Scandinavian countries provide a strong foundation for further collaboration in renewable energy.

In 2020, Turkiye and Sweden signed an agreement aimed at advancing clean energy technologies and improving energy efficiency. This partnership focuses on sharing knowledge in solar energy and smart grids, with Swedish companies such as ABB offering advanced solutions for integrating renewable energy into Turkiye’s electricity grid.

Turkiye and Denmark, meanwhile, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2019 to collaborate on wind energy and energy market integration. Denmark’s expertise in offshore wind technology presents a major opportunity for Turkiye to develop offshore wind farms along its Aegean coast. Notable Danish companies like Vestas and Ørsted could play a key role in building Turkiye’s offshore wind infrastructure.

Furthermore, in 2021, Turkiye and Norway explored potential cooperation in offshore wind energy and hydropower. Norway’s Equinor, a leader in offshore wind and floating wind farms, could assist Turkiye in developing floating wind turbines in the deep waters of the Mediterranean, where traditional fixed-bottom turbines are not feasible.

Opportunities for Collaboration

Turkiye’s Aegean and Mediterranean coasts are prime locations for offshore wind projects. The strong winds in this region could support large-scale wind farms similar to Denmark’s Horns Rev. With Danish and Norwegian expertise in offshore wind, Turkiye could establish wind farms near locations like Çeşme or Bodrum, helping to increase its renewable energy output and reduce dependence on natural gas.

Central Anatolia is one of the sunniest regions in Europe, with potential solar power generation of up to 1,500 kWh/m² per year. Sweden’s experience in developing large-scale solar farms and energy storage solutions could help Turkiye harness this potential. Joint ventures in Konya or Kayseri could lead to significant increases in solar capacity, supported by Swedish smart grid innovations.

The Black Sea region offers significant opportunities for hydropower expansion, which Norway could help develop through its expertise in hydropower management. Additionally, the region’s wind potential could be combined with hydropower to create hybrid renewable energy projects. A hydropower-wind farm hybrid in Trabzon or Rize could optimize energy generation while balancing variable wind power with consistent hydropower output.

Challenges and Barriers

While the opportunities for collaboration are vast, Turkiye also faces several challenges in leveraging Scandinavian expertise. Developing the necessary infrastructure, addressing skill gaps, and ensuring public acceptance will be critical to the success of this partnership.

Infrastructure Constraints: Upgrading and expanding the country’s transmission and distribution networks, as well as developing energy storage solutions, will be essential to accommodate the growing share of renewable energy. Collaboration with Scandinavian countries can provide access to innovative technologies and best practices in grid modernization.

Skill Gap and Workforce Development: Turkiye will need to invest in training and capacity building to develop a skilled workforce capable of designing, installing, and maintaining renewable energy systems. Scandinavian scientific research institutions and universities could play a pivotal role in knowledge transfer and joint research initiatives.

Public Acceptance and Stakeholder Engagement: Securing public support for large-scale renewable energy projects will be crucial. Transparent planning, community engagement, and demonstrating the economic and environmental benefits of the energy transition will help overcome any potential resistance.

Sustainable Energy Mix

By leveraging Scandinavian expertise in wind, solar, and hydropower technologies, Turkiye can accelerate its renewable energy transition and strengthen its energy independence. Bilateral agreements already in place provide a foundation for deeper collaboration, and specific joint projects in regions like the Aegean, Central Anatolia, and the Black Sea can lead to significant renewable energy gains.

For Turkiye, partnering with Scandinavia is not just about technology transfer but also about creating a more sustainable and resilient energy future – one that benefits from the scientific, policy, and financial leadership of some of the world’s most advanced renewable energy markets. By embracing this opportunity, Turkiye can position itself as a regional leader in the global energy transition, contributing to a greener, more secure, and prosperous future.