Turkey’s energy system has vast potential for integrating renewable energy and for smart technology innovation. Both of these advancements are crucial to decarbonise the power sector, improve grid efficiency and ensure resilience. Policy makers can play a pivotal role in helping Turkey achieve its clean energy vision by designing policies to maximise the value of renewables, encourage investment in clean technology and mitigate consequences for the grid and consumers.

A key policy tool for achieving these goals is demand-side response, meaning consumers are financially incentivised to be flexible about when they consume electricity. This involves shifting their use of energy to times that improve the efficiency of the power system as a whole, such as when the grid faces fewer overnight demands, or when there is a surplus of renewable generation. This flexibility is a powerful energy system resource that should also be rewarded as such.

In a recent study, SHURA Energy Transition Center found it is technically and economically feasible for wind and solar resources to make up at least 30% of Turkey’s power mix by 2030, with an additional 20% provided by other renewable energy resources. Key factors in this scenario are electrification of heating, cooling and transport, energy efficiency, electric vehicles and higher rates of demand response.

In this report, SHURA and RAP explore why consumer-side resources are essential for the transition to clean energy as well as their role in Turkey’s wider decarbonisation scenario. The authors outline a six-point plan for scaling up the country’s use of demand-side response.