Turkey’s present hydraulic energy and hydropower potential

Energy is a prime agency for economic liberty and sustainability. It can be supplied from fossil or renewable sources. Hydropower is a renewable energy source that generates electricity without emitting greenhouse gases. So, it possesses significant potential for replacing fossil fuel power plants and providing energy by reducing carbon-based energy sources. In that sense, Turkey has several promising initiatives, such as the Southeastern Project (GAP), which generates 27 billion kWh of hydroelectric energy. On the other hand, Turkey has significant installed capacity. The Atatürk Dam is the sixth largest volume dam in the world, and the average electricity energy production is 8.5 billion kWh/year. Based on the geographic distribution of these sources, a significant portion of the water potential is located in the southeast (28%) and the Black Sea region (8%). Considering these advantages of hydropower, this article shows the hydraulic energy potential in our country. Energy necessities and the balance between supply and demand and their effects are also comprehensively discussed. Finally, the presented study emphasized that Turkey has high hydraulic potential due to its varied topology and numerous rivers. That source also displays economically feasible, environmentally available, and unique domestic characteristics.