Türkiye's solar power generation reached a record high in July, according to official data, as renewable energy sources increasingly meet the country's electricity demand.
Solar generation rose 10.2% from the previous month to 5.4 terawatt-hours (TWh), data compiled from the Energy Exchange Istanbul (EPIAŞ) showed. That surpassed the previous record of 4.9 TWh, set in June.
Solar power accounted for 15.6% of Türkiye's total electricity generation in July, the highest share recorded for the month to date. Solar generation also remained ahead of natural gas and domestic coal-fired power plants for the third consecutive month.
Wind power accounted for 12% of electricity generation, bringing the combined share of solar and wind to 27.6%.
Renewables' share rises to 58%
Hydropower generation also reached a record for July, rising 60% year-over-year to 9 TWh. Hydropower accounted for 26.3% of total electricity generation.
Combined generation from solar, wind, hydropower and other renewable sources accounted for 58% of Türkiye's electricity output, up from 43% in July last year.
Natural gas-fired power generation moved in the opposite direction. Its share fell to 10% in July from around 25% a year earlier, marking the lowest level recorded for any July in the past 26 years.
The share of imported coal-fired generation rose to 19% after remaining relatively low for three months, returning to around its average level. Domestic coal accounted for 12.5%, broadly in line with its 2026 average.
Renewables meet higher summer demand
Çağlar Çeliköz, an energy analyst at international energy think tank Ember, said Türkiye continued to set new records for solar generation during the summer of 2026.
He noted that electricity demand typically rises during hot weather because of increased cooling and air conditioning use, but renewable sources played a growing role in meeting that additional demand.
Electricity consumption reached 34.4 TWh in July, approaching the 35.2 TWh recorded in the same month last year, with air conditioning use contributing to demand.
Despite the higher demand, Çeliköz referred to the fact that gas's share of generation fell to its lowest July level in 26 years. He said the increase in hydropower generation was an important factor behind the 58% share of renewables.
However, he cautioned that the unusually strong renewable performance should not be viewed solely as a structural shift in generation.
Hydropower accounted for 26 percentage points of the 58% renewable share, partly reflecting abundant rainfall, while Türkiye remains exposed to the effects of longer-term drought.
Solar, wind capacity needed to offset hydropower risks
Çeliköz said Türkiye needs to expand its solar and wind capacity to offset potential declines in hydropower generation.
He particularly highlighted rooftop solar, battery-backed renewable plants and hybrid power plants as areas that could help strengthen the country's renewable generation capacity.
Increasing renewable capacity would also help Türkiye reduce its dependence on imported energy and strengthen electricity supply security, Çeliköz said.