Türkiye and China sign preliminary pact targeting $15 billion in renewables

Türkiye is seeking around $15 billion for renewable energy projects through a preliminary agreement signed with China on November 12, 2026, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said. The signing took place in Antalya during the COP31 UN climate summit.

Planned wind and solar farms covered by the pact would have seven gigawatts of combined generating capacity. The cooperation also includes electricity storage, grid improvements and technology sharing to help Türkiye manufacture wind-turbine equipment, Bayraktar said. No project schedule or financing arrangements were disclosed.

The pact followed a November 11 meeting at the summit between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. Han said Beijing was prepared to encourage additional Chinese corporate investment in Türkiye, highlighting renewable energy as a potential area of cooperation, according to a media report.

Türkiye’s energy ministry put the country’s combined solar and wind capacity at around 43.8 gigawatts at September’s close, representing slightly more than a third of total generating capacity. Its national energy strategy targets 175 gigawatts by 2040 and seeks greater use of electricity instead of oil and gas.

Bayraktar estimated on November 10 that the energy transition would require around $300 billion by 2040. He said international partnerships and predictable investor conditions would be needed to attract that funding.