Türkiye’s Wind Power Push: $2.3B in YEKA Opportunities
Türkiye is preparing for one of its biggest wind power expansions in recent years. The upcoming YEKA (Renewable Energy Resource Areas) tenders, set for late 2025, will auction 1,150 megawatts of new wind capacity across five provinces. This round alone is expected to draw $2.3 billion in investment — a clear signal of the country’s ambition to scale clean energy and cut reliance on imports.
A Strong Policy Signal
Since 2017, YEKA has been the backbone of Türkiye’s renewable energy strategy. The government has committed to an annual 2 gigawatt tender program through 2035, offering a steady pipeline that builds confidence in long-term planning.
Recent reforms to simplify permitting and approvals make it easier for projects to move from paper to reality. And with official announcements published in the Official Gazette, legal certainty and transparency remain a cornerstone of the process.
Türkiye’s Wind Belt
This year’s wind-focused round will distribute projects across Sivas, Balıkesir, Aydın, Denizli, and Kütahya. Each site ranges between 110 and 500 MW, making this one of the largest wind auction rounds Türkiye has held in recent years.
These provinces are home to some of the country’s strongest wind resources — meaning projects not only expand clean energy but also tap into highly productive sites.
Big Projects, Long Horizons
YEKA projects are designed to combine scale with long-term stability:
Concessions can last up to nearly five decades, offering long asset lifespans.
100–500 MW project sizes provide opportunities for significant growth.
The YEKA framework creates stable revenue models, supported by Türkiye’s gradual move toward a more liberalized power market.
When paired with disciplined bidding, these conditions set the stage for healthy project economics.
More Than Just Turbines
YEKA is about more than building turbines — it’s also about building industry. Demand is rising for wind components such as blades, towers, and generators, creating opportunities for domestic manufacturers.
Partnerships between global developers and Turkish firms are also expected to deepen, while local banks and financial institutions play a growing role in financing. This not only strengthens projects on the ground but also embeds renewables more deeply into Türkiye’s financial markets.
Powering the Grid of the Future
A massive upgrade is underway to prepare the grid for more renewables. Transmission operator TEİAŞ plans to add nearly 30,000 kilometers of high-voltage lines over the coming years, including both HVDC and AC systems. Cross-border interconnection capacity is also set to rise, positioning Türkiye as a bridge for regional electricity flows between Europe and MENA.
This forward-looking grid expansion reduces bottleneck risks and ensures new YEKA projects can be integrated efficiently.
Risks Worth Noting
As with any large-scale tender, there are challenges to watch:
Intense competition could put pressure on project returns.
Currency fluctuations between the euro and Turkish lira may affect financing.
Transmission capacity, while expanding, will need to keep pace with new builds.
Yet, the country’s track record with YEKA since 2017 shows a consistent policy path that has weathered multiple cycles of global uncertainty.
Strategic outlook/Net-Zero Vision
Türkiye’s 2053 net-zero goal frames wind power as a key part of the country’s energy transition. Each new tender strengthens its clean energy mix and reduces dependence on imported natural gas.
The late-2025 wind tenders represent more than just another auction round — they mark an opportunity to build long-term portfolios in one of the most strategically positioned markets in the world. With 1,150 MW of capacity on offer and $2.3 billion in play, Türkiye’s wind future is gathering momentum.
