The Turkish government has announced plans to hold its first offshore wind tender in the first quarter of 2027. Türkiye’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar stated on 12th August 2026 that the upcoming auction will mark the nation’s initial project under the offshore Renewable Energy Resource Area (YEKA) framework.
The planned auction will encompass four designated offshore areas located in the Aegean Sea off the northwestern coast of Türkiye. These candidate sites are situated near Saros Bay, Edremit, and the islands of Gökçeada and Bozcaada and administrative procedures are underway to finalize their designation. The initiative forms part of a broader policy targeting 5 gigawatts of offshore wind power capacity by 2035.
Framework and Locations for the Offshore Wind Energy Expansion
To prepare for the official launch of the first offshore wind tender, Türkiye’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources has published a draft tender specification. Sector stakeholders, potential investors, and industry organizations have been requested to submit feedback by 17th August 2026. The ministry will review these responses before finalizing the tender requirements.
Full specifics regarding Türkiye’s first offshore wind tender will be made public in September, ahead of the planned auction in early 2027. Minister Bayraktar noted that Türkiye plans to announce its broader offshore wind roadmap prior to hosting the UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya in November.
Speaking on the strategic objectives, Bayraktar said, “This tender will be a first for our energy sector. Our target is to reach 5,000 megawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2035.” He added that developing offshore generation is intended to bolster national energy supply security, support local equipment manufacturing, and create skilled employment opportunities across the renewable energy sector.
Industry Perspectives and Regulatory Requirements
A renewable energy sector representative highlighted that reaching the 5-gigawatt target by 2035 remains feasible provided specific operational conditions are established. Key requirements include:
- Establishing predictable and transparent permitting procedures.
- Developing necessary power grid and port infrastructure.
- Implementing a clear investment framework capable of securing long-term project financing.
The representative further noted that Türkiye’s existing supply chain and technical expertise in onshore wind could help accelerate the deployment of offshore wind facilities.
The Role of the YEKA Model
Türkiye introduced the YEKA model in 2016 to expand domestic renewable energy production, encourage local manufacturing of energy equipment, and cultivate a trained technical workforce. Under this structure, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources identifies candidate zones for renewable projects and grants development rights to winning bidders through competitive auctions. The scheduled 2027 process will mark the first time the YEKA framework is applied directly to offshore wind energy developments.
