- Turkey selected the Demirköprü hydropower reservoir for its first floating solar auction, under the YEKA scheme, which offers long-term grid access and price guarantees.
- This move supports Turkey’s goal to reach 120 GW of solar and wind capacity by 2035, with floating PV joining a growing share of 72.5 GW in renewables.
Turkey is taking a significant step toward clean energy by launching its first floating solar power auction. The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources has chosen the Demirköprü hydropower plant reservoir in Manisa province as the pilot site.
This move supports Turkey’s plan to grow its solar and wind power capacity to 120 GW by 2035.
The reservoir, owned by Electricity Generation Corp. (EÜAŞ), covers almost 48 square kilometres. It sits on the Gediz River, east of Izmir, and is home to a 69 MW hydropower plant. The reservoir’s large surface area is ideal for floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems.
Under the YEKA support programme, short for Renewable Energy Zones, the government will offer long-term grid access and guaranteed pricing to auction winners. Officials are now conducting detailed studies of the site to prepare for the auction.
Meanwhile, Turkey has auctioned 7.85 GW of clean energy capacity, including 3.8 GW of solar power. So far, only two floating solar plants operate in the country, the most recent one coming online earlier this year. Across the region, only Romania and Albania have developed similar floating solar projects.
As of May 2025, Turkey’s total electricity capacity reached 119.3 GW, with 72.5 GW from renewable sources. Solar power now makes up 22.6 GW, up from 20.4 GW in February.
In 2023, the ministry selected the country’s first offshore wind power zones, showing its broader commitment to green energy.
By using reservoirs like Demirköprü for solar generation, Turkey hopes to make better use of its water infrastructure while scaling up renewable energy faster.