Turkey's Energy Transition Milestones and Challenges


Book Description

Through a variety of interlinked measures, Turkey's energy reforms have achieved energy security for a fast-growing economy with rapidly increasing energy needs. These measures include legislation regarding electricity, gas, renewable energy, and energy efficiency; the establishment of an energy sector regulatory authority; energy price reform; the creation of a functional electricity market and large-scale introduction of natural gas; the restructuring of state-owned energy enterprises; and large-scale private sector participation through privatization and new investment. The objectives of this are to: (a) inform future energy reforms and reformers seeking to learn and benefit from Turkey's experience, and (b) contribute to the dialogue on future energy reforms in Turkey. The report will present Turkey's accomplishments in developing and implementing market-oriented energy reforms as well as selected key reform challenges going forward. In terms of reform milestones, the primary focus is on the electric power and natural gas sectors, although energy pricing and subsidies in the petroleum sector are also addressed. The report covers mainly the period starting from 2001, when progressive electricity and natural gas market laws were enacted, though the preceding period - from the opening of the energy sector to private investment in 1984 up to the enactment of the new energy market laws in 2001 - is covered briefly to present key milestones and to highlight key lessons. In terms of future challenges, the report discusses the ongoing and unfinished liberalization of the electricity and gas markets as well as required government support, including governance, in the energy sector. The challenges include the reform of the natural gas market, further development of the electricity market, and governance issues in the energy sector. Discussion of environmental and social issues and challenges has been integrated into the relevant sections.




Twisting in the Wind


Book Description

Whereas most scholars study alternative energy policy in developed, Western nations, Oksan Bayulgen wonders why renewable energy has not advanced in countries that do not have deep fossil fuel resources. This book focuses on the political determinants of clean energy transitions, especially in developing country settings, which most of the literature has overlooked. Using an in-depth case study of energy policymaking in Turkey, Bayulgen constructs a dynamic, multidimensional theoretical model to explain the political feasibility of energy solutions to climate change in much of the world. By using Turkey as a case study, she clearly shows the role of the state and elites in energy policies that have failed to make the transition to renewables. This timely topic will be of interest to scholars, policymakers, energy investors, and anyone interested in environmental studies.




Decarbonising EU-Turkey Energy Cooperation


Book Description

Russia's attack on Ukraine has once again highlighted Europe's heavy dependence on Russian natural gas and thus, among other things, underlined the significance of energy cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Turkey. Traditionally, Turkish-European energy relations have prioritised the diversification of energy resources in the face of Europe's dependence on Russia. The new emerging political, geopolitical, and energy context will have repercussions on Turkish-European energy relation. However, it is the ambitious process of decarbonisation of the economy and energy launched by the EU that will decisively shape the nature and future of Turkey-EU energy relations. Indeed, both European and Turkish interests related to energy security, energy affordability, and climate change mitigation require EU-Turkey cooperation in the decarbonisation process, which is expected to be very challenging. Energy transition is the key to medium- and long-term energy security for both sides.




The Regulation of Turkish Network Industries


Book Description

This book brings together academics and experts on Turkish network industries. It provides fundamental information on the current developments regarding regulation of the different network industries in Turkey. Turkey has gone through a liberalization process in most of the network industries during the past 20 years. In most of them, independent regulatory authorities have been established, but some network industries are still remaining under the central or local government regulatory regime. As a result, there is now a very complicated regulatory regime in place which makes Turkey’s regulatory system difficult to understand for practitioners, academics, lawyers, researchers and investors. This book offers unique insight into Turkey’s regulatory regime in various network industries. It also offers a historical background to regulation, a description of the current regulatory regimes, as well as an analysis of the foreseeable evolutions. The book covers all the important network industries in Turkey. No similar book is available on the market to date. Moreover, the book provides an extensive analysis of the current regulatory regimes in the energy, the transport, and the telecommunications industries. This book should be of interest to anyone wishing to understand Turkish regulation and will be very helpful handbook to researchers who are interested in regulation of network industries not only in Turkey but also in other developing countries, as Turkey is quite representative of other emerging countries. Readers will acquire a thorough understanding of the state of play of the Turkish network industries and their regulation.




Turkey and the EU in an Energy Security Society


Book Description

This book explores Turkey-EU relations in the context of natural gas. Utilising the English School theory and narrative policy analysis, the author examines EU narratives on Turkey’s role in European energy security in the sphere of natural gas, as well as narratives of Turkish actors on natural gas pipelines and the liberalisation of the natural gas market. The book discusses the extent to which the positions held by Turkish actors on natural gas and energy security constrain and/or enable its integration with the EU. Accordingly, it compares the narratives of the EU and Turkish actors to ascertain how references to the content and scope of the integration varied between January 2001 and July 2019. In the context of this book, "integration” does not necessarily mean Turkey’s full membership in the EU. Rather, it refers to different types of relations, which are classified as energy security societies.




Low Carbon Energy in the Middle East and North Africa


Book Description

This book explores the evolving roles of energy stakeholders and geopolitical considerations, leveraging on the dizzying array of planned and actual projects for solar, wind, hydropower, waste-to-energy, and nuclear power in the region. Over the next few decades, favorable economics for low carbon energy sources combined with stagnant oil demand growth will facilitate a shift away from today’s fossil fuel-based energy system. Will the countries of the Middle East and North Africa be losers or leaders in this energy transition? Will state–society relations undergo a change as a result? It suggests that ultimately, politics more so than economics or environmental pressure will determine the speed, scope, and effects of low carbon energy uptake in the region. This book is of interest to academics working in the fields of International Relations, International Political Economy, Comparative Political Economy, Energy Economics, and International Business. Consultants, practitioners, policy-makers, and risk analysts will also find the insights helpful.




The Rise of Turkey and the New Mediterranean Challenges and Opportunities for Energy Cooperation in a Region in Transition


Book Description

This paper, presenting a wide range of issues related to the role of Turkey in the Mediterranean energy context, aims to provide a comprehensive framework of understanding of the growing strategic relevance of Turkey for both the European Union and the overall Euro-Mediterranean region. In particular, the paper focuses on the EU-Turkey energy relations and outlines the crucial role of natural gas in enhancing energy cooperation between the two players. In 2010 about 80% of EU gas imports derived from only three suppliers: Russian Federation, Norway and Algeria. This heavy dependence on such a few suppliers stimulated the European Commission to make the concept of diversification a cornerstone of its energy policy and to launch the concept of the Southern Gas Corridor, an initiative aimed to develop a natural gas transit corridor from Caspian and Middle Eastern gas-rich regions to Europe, in order to ease the dependency on the natural gas imported from the Russian Federation. An initiative that could shift the 'centre of gravity' of the regional gas transit from the north to the south of the Black Sea, allowing Turkey to become a key transit country in the future European gas market; a pivotal element in the European gas security of supply architecture. Furthermore, the paper also considers the enormous renewable energy potential of Southern and Eastern Mediterranean Countries, to which Turkey could greatly contribute in terms of technology transfer and manufacturing know-how. Turkey's involvement in the Union for the Mediterranean offers a great opportunity for energy cooperation both between the EU and Turkey and within the overall Euro-Mediterranean region. Such large-scale renewable energy projects could greatly contribute to the economic development of the overall Mediterranean region, and also to its social and political stability. Considering the lack of a wide and comprehensive EU-Turkey energy cooperation scheme, the paper proposes a series of policy priorities pointed to enhance this bilateral relationship and also the wider Euro-Mediterranean integration process.