Türkiye to Launch First Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Tender After Site Identification
Türkiye is set to launch its first offshore wind Renewable Energy Resource Area (YEKA) tender after identifying four sites for development, according to Alparslan Bayraktar, Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.
Speaking at the 15th Turkey Wind Energy Congress (TÜREK 2026), Bayraktar revealed the identified sites are located in the waters off Saros Bay, Gökçeada, Bozcaada, and Edremit.
“One of the most strategic priorities will be offshore wind energy,” Bayraktar stated. “We plan to hold Türkiye’s first offshore wind YEKA tender once permits are secured, targeting a 5,000 megawatt capacity by 2035.”
Türkiye intends to sustain YEKA tenders for at least 2 GW annually, with 1.5 GW from the 2026 tender dedicated to wind projects. The country’s wind power capacity now exceeds 15 GW, rising from 20 MW in 2005. In 2025, wind energy contributed approximately 11% of Türkiye’s electricity, generating 34.5 billion kWh.
Bayraktar noted that over 60% of wind turbine manufacturing is localized, with more than 70% localization in towers, generators, and blades.
Türkiye plans to invest around USD 30 billion (EUR 25.5 billion) in transmission infrastructure by 2035 to achieve a combined wind and solar capacity of 120 GW.
According to a 2020 World Bank estimate, Turkey has a technical offshore wind potential of 75 GW, suitable for both fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind solutions.
Earlier this year, the president of the Turkish Wind Energy Association (TÜREB) stated that the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MENR) was working to identify sites, tender designs, and financing models to launch the first offshore wind tender in 2026.
Original Story at www.offshorewind.biz