Environmental impacts of energy utilisation and renewable energy policies in Turkey

This paper extensively concentrates on energy and environmental impacts only. Energy utilisation and its major environmental impacts are discussed from the standpoint of sustainable development, including anticipated patterns of future energy use and subsequent environmental issues in Turkey. Several aspects relating to energy utilisation, renewable energy, energy efficiency, environment and sustainable development are examined from both current and future perspectives. Turkey is an energy-importing country; more than half of the energy requirement has been supplied by imports. Domestic oil and lignite reserves are limited and lignites are characterised by high ash, sulphur and moisture content. Due to increasing energy consumption, air pollution is becoming a great environmental concern for the future of the country. In this regard, renewable energy resources appear to be the one of the most efficient and effective solutions for sustainable energy development and environmental pollution preventation in Turkey. Turkeyʹs geographical location has several advantages for extensive use of most of these renewable energy sources.