Coal in electricity generation

In 2022, 34.3% of Turkey’s electricity generation and 21%  of the total installed capacity was based on coal. By the end of 2022, the total installed capacity of coal-fired power plants exceeded 21 GW (11.2 GW hard coal, 10.1 GW lignite, 0.4 GW asphaltite). Of the coal-fired plants, 10,373 MW (almost all) use imported coal.

The first coal-fired power plant in Turkey was commissioned in 1914. The 15 MW Silahtarağa power station generated electricity for Istanbul until 1983 using local coal mined in Zonguldak. Once home to Turkey’s first coal-fired power station, the magnificent building now serves as an international centre for art, culture and learning, known as Santral Istanbul. 

In 1948, the 64.5 MW Çatalağzı thermal power station was commissioned in Zonguldak, the centre of Turkey’s coal mining industry. In the 70 years since the inauguration of the Çatalağzı coal-fired power plant, a period of twenty years is particularly significant for the construction of new coal-fired power plants in Turkey. 

Distribution of electricity generation in Turkey by sources, 1990 – 2021. Data source: TEIAS Electricity Statistics

Total installed capacity in Turkey between 2017-2021. Data source: TEIAS Electricity Statistics

With the commissioning of Yeniköy, Yatağan, Afşin Elbistan A, Soma B and Çayırhan thermal power plants in the 1980s, the capacity of lignite-fired thermal power plants increased from 1 GW to 5 GW. During the two decades following the 1980s, lignite-fired thermal power plant investments continued and the total installed capacity reached 9.8 GW. The 10-year period following 2010 can be characterised as the imported coal era, as the installed capacity of imported coal-fired thermal power plants increased from 1 GW to 9 GW during this period.

Installed capacity of hard coal and lignite-fired power plants in Turkey, 1940 – 2021. Data source: TEİAŞ Electricity Statistics

These trends are also reflected in the information on the age of coal power plants. In Turkey, 82 per cent of lignite-fired thermal power plants are over 10 years old and 46 per cent are over 30 years old. On the other hand, 81% of imported coal-fired power plants are under 10 years old.   

Age distribution of Turkey’s coal power plants by fuel type, 2020. (Includes domestic hard coal, asphaltite)

As of the end of 2022, Turkey ranks 13th in the world in terms of installed capacity of coal power plants. Considering the projects that have been announced, are in the permitting phase or have already been authorised, Turkey ranks 5th in the world. The total installed capacity of these projects was 10.5 GW at the end of 2022.