Structural Obstacles to Energy Transition in Türkiye and Holistic Solution Proposals: A Political, Economic and Social Dimensional Analysis

This study aims to analyze the multi-dimensional structural obstacles in Türkiye’s energy transition process and offer solutions for a sustainable, fair, and holistic transition. The study simultaneously evaluated energy policies’ economic, environmental, and social impacts; quantitative data, quali...

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Main Author: Muhammed Ernur Akiner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/10/2591
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author Muhammed Ernur Akiner
author_facet Muhammed Ernur Akiner
author_sort Muhammed Ernur Akiner
collection DOAJ
description This study aims to analyze the multi-dimensional structural obstacles in Türkiye’s energy transition process and offer solutions for a sustainable, fair, and holistic transition. The study simultaneously evaluated energy policies’ economic, environmental, and social impacts; quantitative data, qualitative interviews, spatial analysis, and scenario modeling techniques were used together. Türkiye’s 2023 energy panorama was examined and compared to the European Union averages. Structural differences in fundamental indicators such as energy intensity, supply security, pricing, and renewable resource use were revealed. According to EPDK, TÜİK, and TEİAŞ, Türkiye’s renewable energy share (42%) fell behind the EU average (63%), energy intensity was high (6.8 MJ per US dollar of GDP), and dependence on fossil fuels (coal 30%, natural gas 25%) threatened energy security. The findings show that the main obstacles to energy transition are insufficient financing, lack of political will, technological incompatibilities, and institutional coordination problems. In this context, the study proposes short-term to long-term transition policies. A multi-layered solution framework was presented, from energy cooperatives to carbon pricing, from net-zero laws to regional development plans. These policies can increase the renewable energy rate to 65% by 2035 and reduce carbon emissions by 50%. The study is one of the first systematic analyses to address energy transition in Türkiye with a holistic approach and is a strategic reference for policymakers.
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spelling doaj-art-cfabda2be92e4016af7db5be1579a3102025-08-20T03:14:39ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-05-011810259110.3390/en18102591Structural Obstacles to Energy Transition in Türkiye and Holistic Solution Proposals: A Political, Economic and Social Dimensional AnalysisMuhammed Ernur Akiner0Department of Environmental Protection Technologies, Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Akdeniz University, Antalya TR-07058, TürkiyeThis study aims to analyze the multi-dimensional structural obstacles in Türkiye’s energy transition process and offer solutions for a sustainable, fair, and holistic transition. The study simultaneously evaluated energy policies’ economic, environmental, and social impacts; quantitative data, qualitative interviews, spatial analysis, and scenario modeling techniques were used together. Türkiye’s 2023 energy panorama was examined and compared to the European Union averages. Structural differences in fundamental indicators such as energy intensity, supply security, pricing, and renewable resource use were revealed. According to EPDK, TÜİK, and TEİAŞ, Türkiye’s renewable energy share (42%) fell behind the EU average (63%), energy intensity was high (6.8 MJ per US dollar of GDP), and dependence on fossil fuels (coal 30%, natural gas 25%) threatened energy security. The findings show that the main obstacles to energy transition are insufficient financing, lack of political will, technological incompatibilities, and institutional coordination problems. In this context, the study proposes short-term to long-term transition policies. A multi-layered solution framework was presented, from energy cooperatives to carbon pricing, from net-zero laws to regional development plans. These policies can increase the renewable energy rate to 65% by 2035 and reduce carbon emissions by 50%. The study is one of the first systematic analyses to address energy transition in Türkiye with a holistic approach and is a strategic reference for policymakers.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/10/2591energy transitionsustainable developmentrenewable energycarbon neutrality targetenergy supply security
spellingShingle Muhammed Ernur Akiner
Structural Obstacles to Energy Transition in Türkiye and Holistic Solution Proposals: A Political, Economic and Social Dimensional Analysis
Energies
energy transition
sustainable development
renewable energy
carbon neutrality target
energy supply security
title Structural Obstacles to Energy Transition in Türkiye and Holistic Solution Proposals: A Political, Economic and Social Dimensional Analysis
title_full Structural Obstacles to Energy Transition in Türkiye and Holistic Solution Proposals: A Political, Economic and Social Dimensional Analysis
title_fullStr Structural Obstacles to Energy Transition in Türkiye and Holistic Solution Proposals: A Political, Economic and Social Dimensional Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Structural Obstacles to Energy Transition in Türkiye and Holistic Solution Proposals: A Political, Economic and Social Dimensional Analysis
title_short Structural Obstacles to Energy Transition in Türkiye and Holistic Solution Proposals: A Political, Economic and Social Dimensional Analysis
title_sort structural obstacles to energy transition in turkiye and holistic solution proposals a political economic and social dimensional analysis
topic energy transition
sustainable development
renewable energy
carbon neutrality target
energy supply security
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/10/2591
work_keys_str_mv AT muhammedernurakiner structuralobstaclestoenergytransitioninturkiyeandholisticsolutionproposalsapoliticaleconomicandsocialdimensionalanalysis