Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have signed a memorandum of understanding to advance a 5,000-megawatt renewable energy programme in Türkiye. The projects, to be implemented by Saudi investor ACWA Power, will include 2,000MW of solar power in the first phase and an additional 3,000MW of wind power in the second phase. The agreement comes as Türkiye prepares for rising electricity demand and targets 120GW of combined solar and wind capacity by 2035.
Key Takeaways
- Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have signed an electricity cooperation memorandum of understanding on the sidelines of COP31 in Antalya.
- The programme will deliver 5,000MW of renewable energy capacity through two phases.
- The first phase covers 2,000MW of solar projects, while the second will add 3,000MW of wind power.
- ACWA Power will implement the projects as the investor designated by Saudi Arabia.
- Türkiye expects electricity consumption to reach 510.5 terawatt-hours by 2035.
What Have Saudi Arabia and Türkiye Agreed?
Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on electricity projects, advancing plans for 5,000 megawatts of capacity in Türkiye.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), held in Antalya, Türkiye, in the presence of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The memorandum builds on an earlier intergovernmental agreement on renewable energy cooperation signed by the two governments on February 3, which entered into force on October 21. Under the arrangement, Saudi energy company ACWA Power will develop renewable energy projects with a combined installed capacity of 5,000MW in two phases.
How Will the 5,000MW Renewable Energy Programme Be Implemented?
The programme will be implemented in two phases, combining solar and wind energy projects.
The first phase covers 2,000MW of solar power projects in Türkiye’s central provinces of Sivas and Karaman. Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said progress had been made on these initial projects.
The second phase will add another 3,000MW of renewable energy capacity, focusing on wind power plants. These will be supported by high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission infrastructure and battery energy storage systems.
“With the agreement signed today in Antalya, we are taking our efforts to implement the additional 3,000 megawatts of capacity planned for the second phase a step further,” Bayraktar said.
The planned wind projects represent a significant addition to Türkiye’s renewable energy infrastructure. The installed wind capacity to be built under the latest bilateral deal represents 20% of Turkey’s existing wind power generation capacity.
The combination of wind generation, transmission infrastructure and battery storage is intended to strengthen the electricity grid and improve its ability to manage renewable energy supplies.
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Why Does Türkiye Need More Renewable Energy Capacity?
The agreement comes as Türkiye prepares for a substantial increase in electricity demand over the coming decade.
Türkiye’s electricity consumption is expected to increase to 510.5 terawatt-hours by 2035, up from 364.8 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to the country’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.
At the same time, the country is targeting 120GW of combined installed solar and wind capacity by 2035, up from around 30GW when the target was announced in 2024.
Reaching this target will require substantial investment in renewable energy generation, electricity transmission networks and energy storage facilities.
The Saudi-Turkish programme is therefore not only about adding new power generation capacity. Its planned transmission and storage infrastructure will also support the integration of renewable electricity into Türkiye’s wider energy system.
What Role Will ACWA Power Play?
Saudi Arabia has designated ACWA Power as the investor responsible for implementing the 5,000MW programme.
The company already has an established presence in Türkiye through its 927MW Kirikkale independent power plant, its first investment in the country.
Valued at $930 million, the facility offsets approximately 1.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, according to the company.
The latest projects will deepen ACWA Power’s involvement in Türkiye’s electricity sector while expanding Saudi investment in the country’s renewable energy development.
The programme also reflects Saudi Arabia’s wider ambitions in alternative energy. Riyadh aims to generate around 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2060, as part of its Vision 2030 programme.
The Bigger Picture: What Does the Agreement Mean for Renewable Energy?
The agreement highlights growing energy and investment cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. It also demonstrates how cross-border investment can support countries seeking to expand renewable energy capacity while strengthening their electricity infrastructure.
For Türkiye, the immediate priority is meeting rising electricity demand and progressing towards its 2035 solar and wind capacity target. The planned 3,000MW wind phase, supported by battery storage and HVDC transmission, is particularly relevant because renewable energy expansion also requires infrastructure capable of handling variable electricity generation.
For Saudi Arabia, the agreement provides an opportunity to extend its energy investment activities beyond its domestic market while supporting renewable energy development in another country.
Why Does This Matter Now?
Türkiye is facing two connected priorities: preparing for higher electricity consumption and increasing the share of renewable energy in its power system.
The 5,000MW programme offers a route towards both objectives, although the projects will need to progress from agreements and preparations to implementation and eventual electricity generation.
The second phase is particularly important because it combines wind power with transmission and battery storage infrastructure. This could help improve grid flexibility as more renewable electricity is added to the system.
The next major development to watch will be progress on the first-phase solar projects and the implementation of the additional 3,000MW wind capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Saudi Arabia-Türkiye renewable energy agreement about?
It is a memorandum of understanding to advance 5,000MW of renewable energy projects in Türkiye, to be implemented by Saudi investor ACWA Power.
2. How much solar and wind capacity will the programme deliver?
The first phase covers 2,000MW of solar projects, while the second phase will add 3,000MW of wind power.
3. Why is Türkiye investing in renewable energy?
Türkiye expects electricity consumption to rise to 510.5 terawatt-hours by 2035 and is targeting 120GW of combined solar and wind capacity by the same year.
4. What role will battery storage and HVDC transmission play?
They will support the wind projects by strengthening electricity transmission and improving the flexibility of Türkiye’s power grid as renewable energy capacity expands.
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